cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interference alignment through staggered antenna switching for MIMO BC with no CSIT

In this paper, we explore the degrees of freedom (DoF) of the broadcast channel (BC) where the transmitter is equipped with M antennas and there are K receivers, each equipped with N reconfigurable antennas capable of switching among M preset modes. Without any knowledge of the channel coefficient values but only receiver antenna switching modes at the transmitter, we propose an interference alignment scheme for this channel. We show that if N &#60; M, then a total of MNKoverM+KN−N DoF are achievable, almost surely. The key to this interference alignment scheme is the ability of the receivers to switch between reconfigurable antenna modes to create short term channel fluctuation patterns that are exploited by the transmitter. Compared to the results we showed for MISO BC [6], the supersymbol of MIMO BC may have diverse structures depending M and N, and it can be determined from that of MISO BC through an iterative mapping function.
Photorefraction from a Photochromic Soft Material

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymers containing photochromic ruthenium sulfoxide complexes were prepared. The absorption changes upon light exposure were recorded and changes in the index of refraction were calculated from the Kramers–Kronig relation. Four-wave mixing experiments were performed, demonstrating that an index grating can be generated. The dynamics and angular dependence of the grating were measured. We determined the holographic or photorefractive sensitivity for these materials, which is defined as volume per incident energy (cm3 J–1). We compare our materials to existing materials and discuss the factors that affect diffraction efficiency.
Microwave spectroscopy and curious molecular dynamics of ethyl trifluoroacetate

Abstract The first ethyl ester whose structure was determined by microwave spectroscopy is ethyl formate. It exists in two conformations. In the 1970s, that study was used as a model to determine the structures of other ethyl esters, ethyl cyanoformate, chloroformate, and trifluoroacetate. They display the same conformations as ethyl formate. But under the experimental conditions used, Stark modulation with a maximum electric field, static low pressure gas, rapid sweeping, and long detector time constants, each of those esters displays bands of an additional third species. A careful, high resolution study of ethyl cyanoformate only observed two conformers. A model has been proposed that the third species derives from a dense array of torsionally excited states with broadened transitions due to short lifetimes. The present study of ethyl trifluoroacetate in a pulsed jet Fourier Transform spectrometer is intended to clarify the earlier results. Two conformers are observed including all their monosubstituted 13C and 18O isotopologs. In a pulsed jet Fourier Transform spectrometer using argon as the carrier gas, only one conformer is observed. Switching to helium as the carrier gas, another, higher energy conformer is also observed.
Experimental and numerical studies on the treatment of wet astronaut trash by forced-convection drying

Abstract During long-term space missions, astronauts generate wet trash, including food containers with uneaten portions, moist hygiene wipes and wet paper towels. This waste produces two problems: the loss of water and the generation of odors and health hazards by microbial growth. These problems are solved by a closed-loop, forced-convection, heat-pump drying system which stops microbial activity by both pasteurization and desiccation, and recovers water in a gravity-independent porous media condensing heat exchanger. A transient, pseudo-homogeneous continuum model for the drying of wet ersatz trash was formulated for this system. The model is based on the conservation equations for energy and moisture applied to the air and solid phases and includes the unique trash characteristic of having both dry and wet solids. Experimentally determined heat and mass transfer coefficients, together with the moisture sorption equilibrium relationship for the wet material are used in the model. The resulting system of differential equations is solved by the finite-volume method as implemented by the commercial software COMSOL. Model simulations agreed well with experimental data under certain conditions. The validated model will be used in the optimization of the entire closed-loop system consisting of fan, air heater, dryer vessel, heat-pump condenser, and heat-recovery modules.
Mitochondrial function in engineered cardiac tissues is regulated by extracellular matrix elasticity and tissue alignment.

A new methodology has been developed to measure O2 consumption rates in engineered cardiac tissues with independent control over tissue alignment and matrix elasticity. This led to the findings tha...
Unemployment and optimal exchange rate in an open economy

Abstract China has been criticized for adopting a low yuan policy to take unfair advantage of its trading partners. This paper considers the optimal exchange rate policy of a Keynesian open economy with unemployed resources. In the case of Cobb-Douglas utility and production functions, indirect utility is monotone-increasing and concave in the exchange rate. Yuan devaluation is shown to reduce unemployment. Moreover, the optimal exchange rate is one which guarantees full employment. The United States may want to choose a different rate which ensures full employment. The two countries could negotiate an intermediate exchange rate for which some unemployment exists in both countries.
Radiological features and metastatic patterns of thymic neuroendocrine tumours.

Aim To investigate the clinical and image features of thymic neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), and characterise the radiological patterns of recurrence and metastasis on serial imaging studies. Materials and methods The study included 14 patients (11 males) with a histopathological diagnosis of thymic NETs (one typical carcinoid, eight atypical carcinoid, and five large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma). Preoperative images were assessed for features of primary tumours. Follow-up imaging studies were evaluated for the patterns of metastasis or recurrence. Results Underlying endocrine or autoimmune disorders were present in four patients (29%), including multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 1 (n=3) and autoimmune thyroiditis (n=1). On preoperative imaging, the primary tumours were commonly lobulate and heterogeneous, infiltrated the surrounding fat, and showed ≥50% abutment of the mediastinal structures, with the mean longest diameter of 14 cm (range: 4.1–28 cm). No significant differences of preoperative imaging features were noted among histopathological subtypes. Metastasis or recurrence was noted in 11 of the 14 patients (79%). Ten patients developed intrathoracic metastasis or recurrence, involving thoracic lymph nodes (n=7), pleura (n=4), lung (n=4), pericardium (n=4), and local recurrence in the postoperative mediastinum (n=3). Eight of the 11 patients also had extra-thoracic metastasis, involving bone (n=6), abdominal lymph nodes (n=4), liver, pancreas, kidney, adrenal gland, spleen and brain (n=1 for each site). Conclusions Thymic NETs presented as a large, lobulate, heterogeneous mass with an infiltrative nature. Metastasis and recurrence were frequent, most commonly involving thoracic lymph nodes, while extra-thoracic metastasis to bones and abdominal lymph nodes were also noted.
Mapping the Human Genome, Cloned Genes, DNA Polymorphisms, and Inherited Disease

It is estimated that the human haploid genome is composed of 3 × 109 nucleotides and that only 10% of it consists of coding and regulatory sequences.14 If a gene is approximately 104 nucleotides in length, which includes the coding region and the intervening and flanking sequences, this estimate would predict that there are about 3–10 × 104 human genes coding for different protein products. Since gene clustering in humans has become evident (for example, the hemoglobin, immunoglobin, and HLA clusters), these estimated gene products may be grouped in from 3000 to 15,000 clusters.15 Further, based upon genetic and molecular studies of microorganisms, Drosophila, and the mouse, there are perhaps 5 × 104 structural genes estimated in humans,14,106,183 which is in agreement with the number of estimated protein products in the human genome. Mapping the human genome involves partitioning the total number of genes into individual maps representing the 24 different human nuclear chromosomes and linearly ordering them on each chromosome. A similar exercise has mapped the 37 genes encoded in the DNA of the mitochondrial genome.2
Incremental Acquisition and a Parameterized Model of Grammar

Work in generative grammar over the past thirty years has been guided by the problem of how it is that we can arrive at such a rich state of knowledge about our native language given limited exposure to impoverished data.
Robust Complete Path Planning in the Plane

We present a complete path planning algorithm for a plane robot with three degrees of freedom and a static obstacle. The part boundaries consist of n linear and circular edges. The algorithm constructs and searches a combinatorial representation of the robot free space. Its computational complexity is O((n 4 + c3) log n) with c 3 e O(n 6) the number of configurations with three simultaneous contacts between robot and obstacle edges. The algorithm is implemented robustly using our adaptive-precision controlled perturbation library. The program is fast and memory efficient, is provably accurate, and handles degenerate input.
Factors Affecting the Transcutaneous Measurement of Bilirubin: Influence of Race, Gestational Age, Phototherapy and Albumin Binding Capacity

Most previous studies in infants have found surprisingly good correlation between transcutaneous bilirubin indices and serum bilirubin indices and serum bilirubin levels.1–6 However, exact correlation between such measurements should not be expected since the instrument measures the yellowness of the skin and not the concentration of bilirubin in the blood. Many factors can influence the relationship between these two measurements, including race, gestational age, the rate of bilirubin accumulation as well as the bilirubin binding capacity, and other factors that affect the distribution of bilirubin between the intravascular and extravascular spaces. These influences preclude the use of any objective measurement of skin jaundice as a complete substitution or replacement for the measurement of serum bilirubin under all circumstances. Nevertheless, previous studies have tested the validity of transcutaneous bilirubinometry almost solely by comparing the degree of exact correlation with the serum value.
Critical Care Research and Regulatory Compliance

After studying this chapter, you should be able to: Discuss the concept of research intent. Identify the regulatory authorities who are responsible for research conducted in the United States. Describe the responsibilities of the institutional review board (IRB). List the categories available to the IRB for review of research. Give examples of the materials the IRB will need to adequately review a research proposal. Describe the informed consent process. Discuss how the exception from informed consent (EFIC) impacts emergency and critical care research.
Bifunctional amyloid-reactive peptide promotes binding of antibody 11-1F4 to diverse amyloid types and enhances therapeutic efficacy

Amyloidosis is a malignant pathology associated with the formation of proteinaceous amyloid fibrils that deposit in organs and tissues, leading to dysfunction and severe morbidity. More than 25 proteins have been identified as components of amyloid, but the most common form of systemic amyloidosis is associated with the deposition of amyloid composed of Ig light chains (AL). Clinical management of amyloidosis focuses on reducing synthesis of the amyloid precursor protein. However, recently, passive immunotherapy using amyloid fibril-reactive antibodies, such as 11-1F4, to remove amyloid from organs has been shown to be effective at restoring organ function in patients with AL amyloidosis. However, 11-1F4 does not bind amyloid in all AL patients, as evidenced by PET/CT imaging, nor does it efficiently bind the many other forms of amyloid. To enhance the reactivity and expand the utility of the 11-1F4 mAb as an amyloid immunotherapeutic, we have developed a pretargeting “peptope” comprising a multiamyloid-reactive peptide, p5+14, fused to a high-affinity peptide epitope recognized by 11-1F4. The peptope, known as p66, bound the 11-1F4 mAb in vitro with subnanomolar efficiency, exhibited multiamyloid reactivity in vitro and, using tissue biodistribution and SPECT imaging, colocalized with amyloid deposits in a mouse model of systemic serum amyloid A amyloidosis. Pretreatment with the peptope induced 11-1F4 mAb accumulation in serum amyloid A deposits in vivo and enhanced 11-1F4–mediated dissolution of a human AL amyloid extract implanted in mice.
Surficial Glaciology of Jakobshavns Isbræ, West Greenland: Part II. Ablation, accumulation and temperature

Accumulation studies along the lowermost 100 km of Jakobshavns Isbrae show that the local net balance above the equilibrium line (1210 m elevation in 1986) is significantly less than that measured along the EGIG line about 100 km further north. This indicates the presence of a precipitation low in this region which will affect any global mass-balance assessment for the Jakobshavns Isbrae drainage basin. Comparison of the estimated calving and ablation fluxes shows that calving removes about twice as much mass from this drainage basin as does melting. Basal melting over the entire basin accounts for about 20% of the total ice loss by ablation. Temperature measurements at 12 m depth along the same section of the Isbrae show the warming effects of refreezing meltwater and cooling effects of severe crevassing. In addition, there is a significant variation in temperature across the fast-moving ice stream which is probably caused by deformation heating in the shear margins which delineate the ice stream within the ice sheet. This lateral temperature gradient could be important in ice-stream dynamics through its effects on ice rheology. Detailed measurements within the percolation fades show that surface melt can penetrate up to 3 m by piping in cold firn, and, upon refreezing, can cause significant warming at these depths.
A mixed-methods study: Districts’ implementation of language classification policies and the implications for male, Hispanic, and low-income middle school students

California state policy requires English language learners (ELL) to pass the California English Language Development Test and the California Standards Test in English Language Arts to be Reclassified Fluent English Proficient (RFEP). However, most districts make it more difficult for ELL students to reclassify by setting reclassification requirements that are more stringent than the state-mandated requirement. In this paper, we examine the reclassification process for two California school districts. In Manzanita Unified School District, administrators describe a system that explicitly provides a role for parents and teachers to influence reassignment decisions. In Granada Unified School District, administrators describe a system that is exclusively test-driven. Nevertheless, these two approaches yield similar reclassification outcomes. In both districts, male, Hispanic, and low-income ELL students are less likely to take or pass the required assessments. Even among students who do pass the assessments male, Hispanic, and low-income students are still less likely to be reclassified. We draw upon the notion of tight- and loose-coupling in educational organizations to make sense of this disconnect between ELL reclassification policies and reclassification outcomes in these two districts. We recommend administrators and teachers work together to establish but also implement their district’sobjec language classification policies.
Effect of Linewidth Dispersion in Degenerate Four Wave Mixing and Kerr-Comb Generation

We report the numerical study of linewidth dispersion effect on the degenerate four-wave mixing and the corresponding Kerr comb generation. We show that for asymmetric linewidth difference around pumping wavelength, there is a threshold above which we see non-homogenous response corresponding to Turing roles inside the resonator in the generalized Lugiato-Lefever equation (LLE) including the linewidth dispersion.
Hypotension in Cirrhosis.

Circulatory and cardiac compromise in cirrhosis has been well studied. The primary pathophysiology stems from portal hypertension, which is induced from an increased resistance to flow secondary to distorted sinusoidal architecture and is further sustained from an increase in portal venous flow.1 Portal hypertension induces both progressive splanchnic and systemic vasodilation mediated via nitric oxide and other vasoactive molecules secondary to endothelial stretching and sheer stress.2 A hyperdynamic state then ensues with an increase in cardiac output, increase in heart rate, and a low systemic vascular resistance secondary to systemic vasodilatation. The decreased effective arterial blood volume activates neurohormonal systems such as the renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone system (RAAS), leading to further volume expansion via sodium and water retention. However, because of portosystemic shunting and splanchnic vasodilatation, effective central blood volume remains low and the hyperdynamic state continues, eventually leading to high‐output heart failure (Fig. ​(Fig.1).1). A lower mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 60 to 65 mm Hg is often tolerated in compensated and stable patients through these compensatory mechanisms, which allow end‐organ perfusion to be maintained.1, 2 Any degree of insult to this system can result in significant hypotension and decompensation. Open in a separate window Figure 1 Pathophysiology of hypotension in cirrhosis.
The basal ganglia can control learned motor sequences independently of motor cortex

Summary How the basal ganglia contribute to the execution of learned motor skills has been thoroughly investigated. The two dominant models that have emerged posit roles for the basal ganglia in action selection and in the modulation of movement vigor. Here we test these models in rats trained to execute highly stereotyped and idiosyncratic task-specific motor sequences. Recordings and manipulations of neural activity in the striatum were not well explained by either model, and suggested that the basal ganglia, in particular its sensorimotor arm, are crucial for controlling the detailed kinematic structure of the learned behaviors. Importantly, the neural representations in the striatum, and the control functions they subserve, did not depend on the motor cortex. Taken together, these results extend our understanding of basal ganglia function, by suggesting that they can control and modulate lower-level subcortical motor circuits on a moment-by-moment basis to generate stereotyped learned motor sequences.
Addison's disease in pregnancy: Case report, management, and review of the literature.

Background Addison's disease is an uncommon condition encountered during pregnancy; however, pregnant patients with Addison's disease are at higher risk for multiple pregnancy related complications. Treatment during pregnancy involves steroid replacement therapy. Case report A 34-year-old previously healthy G2P1001 presented with lethargy, skin hyperpigmentation, polyuria, and salt craving. Laboratory evaluation showed hyperkalemia, hyponatremia, elevated ACTH, and low cortisol. The patient terminated the pregnancy due to her symptoms. She was then placed on a regimen of hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone, leading to symptom resolution. On second presentation as a G5P1031, her Addison's disease was managed with hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone. When Addison's symptoms recurred, ACTH levels were checked to determine if her current medications could be optimized. She ultimately delivered a healthy male infant vaginally. For her third presentation as a G6P2032, her pregnancy was managed in a similar manner to the previous pregnancy. Conclusion There is currently minimal cohesive literature on the management of Addison's disease during pregnancy. Patients can be managed successfully by monitoring for recurrence of Addison's symptoms and adjusting medication dosing as needed.
Design of an All-Semiconductor Selective Metamaterial Emitter in the Mid-IR Regime with Larger Feature Sizes for Thermophotovoltaic Energy Conversion Applications

A thermophotovoltaic (TPV) system converts heat that is absorbed via conduction, convection, and/or radiation to electricity. The efficiency of TPV energy conversion can be improved with a narrowband selective emitter that emits photons at just above the bandgap energy towards the TPV photodiode. We numerically report a selective metamaterial (MM) emitter design with a single layer of cylindrical structures of p-type silicon (boron-doped). Our design (substrate-free) features a peak absorbance of 94.8% at the wavelength of 3.47 μm with the smallest lateral dimension of 0.8 μm. The absorption is found to be due to the resonance of electric and magnetic fields in the structure. The larger dimensions of our selective MM emitter design make it significantly easier to pattern than many of previously reported selective MM emitters operating at similar wavelengths to that of our work. We believe that our work demonstrates a path forward for future research on larger-area all-semiconductor selective MM emitters with a variety of peak absorbance wavelengths for TPV applications.
Role of the Reference Bus in Three-Phase State Estimation

As more and more renewable energy sources are being connected to the power grid at lower voltage levels, closer monitoring of distribution networks is becoming a necessity. This is accomplished by state estimation and deployment of Distribution Management Systems (DMS). Distribution feeders are typically untransposed with unbalance loads. Thus, their modeling and analysis show significant differences compared to those for transmission networks. This paper focuses on the state estimation problem and its formulation for unbalanced distribution systems. Specifically, it is concerned about the modeling and solution of three-phase networks without a fully balanced bus to be selected as the angle reference. It is shown that best results will be obtained via the use of a virtual symmetrical bus. Validation of the proposed formulation is carried out by simulations.
Representing and Working with Trees

Biologists are frequently interested in the relationships between species. To represent such relationships they use a diagram called a phylogenetic tree . The phylogenetic tree in Figure 9.2 consists of a set of nodes connected by branches. In this example, we have marked the nodes with dots. The ones on the right are called leaf nodes or simply leaves . They represent the species whose relationships we want to understand. In this example, the leaves are five currently living primate species, including great apes and humans. There are also internal nodes, which represent hypothesized ancestral species. For example, the node marked in red represents the most recent common ancestor of chimpanzees and humans, an animal that lived between 5 and 8 million years ago. The tree provides information about the evolutionary relationships between species. We can use the internal nodes to define groups of closely related species called clades . All the species descended from a particular internal node form a clade, and are more closely related to each other than they are to other species. Thus the red dot in Figure 9.2 defines a clade that we might call the human-chimpanzee clade. This clade includes three living species: human, the common chimpanzee, and the pygmy chimpanzee. The fact that they are in a clade together tells us, for example, that chimpanzees are more closely related to humans than they are to gorillas.
Challenges identifying efficacious miRNA therapeutics for cancer

MicroRNAs are a class of small non-coding RNAs (22–23 nucleotides), which regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level and play key roles in tumorigenesis and other diseases [1,2]. Mi...
Extracellular Vesicles Attenuate Nitrofen-Mediated Human Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Dysfunction: Implications for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) leads to pathophysiologic pulmonary vasoreactivity. Previous studies show that mesenchymal stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSCEv) inhibit lung inf...
AAP working at many levels to close the `quality gap' for children

The Academy is committed to the provision of high quality care for children. In recent years the government, purchasers, insurers, physicians and the public have become increasingly concerned about the “quality gap” — the difference between actual health care outcomes and those thought to be
Disorders of cardiac conduction accompany the dive reflex in man.

The faces of 19 healthy subjects were immersed in water at temperatures varying between 10° and 30° C and at different degrees of lung inflation. Several abnormalities of cardiac conduction were noted. They occurred with the greatest frequency in the coldest water and when there was relatively little air in the lungs at the moment of immersion. There was fragmentary evidence, confirmatory of earlier studies, that heart-rate slowing was accentuated by fear and that very little slowing occurred when the subject was distracted or preoccupied. Various conduction abnormalities were recorded. The most striking finding was the wide difference from person to person in the occurrence of conduction disturbances under more or less comparable circumstances. Moreover, the patterns of conduction alterations, differing from person to person, were nevertheless relatively consistent from dive to dive for the same individual. To ascertain whether or not such idiosyncratic responses may have prognostic significance calls for a long-term, prospective study.
Fuzzy Logic Direct Power Control of a Bidirectional Three-Phase ACIDC Converter

This paper develops a modern control strategy in order to command an AC/DC converter. This technique is a combination between Direct Power Control and Fuzzy Logic (FL-DPC). First of all, the first phase consists in mathematical modeling of the proposed converter using Kirchhoff's equations. Subsequently, the second part is devoted to the description of the main blocks constituting the fuzzy controller. Thereafter, he developed the inputs of the fuzzy controller as well as its output. In a concrete way, the author specified as inputs; the sector and the two errors of the active and reactive powers. However, the control vector is designated as an output. Therefore, with a view to accomplish good performances like; a sinusoidal waveform of current, a small rate of THD, an almost unitary power factor and a reliable adjustment of the DC bus voltage, the author resorted to the Matlab/Simulink environment. Finally, the bidirectional power flow is checked based on the simulation of three scenarios; inverter mode, rectifier mode and shut-down mode.
Performance of Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) product in monitoring precipitation under extreme events in Harris County, Texas

Abstract With an increase in intensity and frequency of extreme precipitations as a result of climate change, it is necessary to develop effective strategies for emergency flood management plan. It is critical to integrate the use of high-resolution hydro-meteorological data (e.g., precipitation) as input for hydrologic modeling to accurately predict and reduce the negative impact of floods. The Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) system has been developed by the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) to produce high-resolution spatio-temporal precipitation data. While the MRMS data are available at relatively high spatial (1 km) and temporal (2 min) resolutions across the continental United States (CONUS), MRMS’s accuracy in measuring actual precipitation needs to be investigated across some urban areas such as Harris County, TX. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to evaluate i) the performance of the MRMS system compared to other precipitation products (rain gauge network, Multisensor Precipitation Estimator (MPE)) at different spatial (5, 10, 15, 30 km) and temporal aggregations (5, 10,15, 30, 60 min) during four major flooding events of May 2015 (Memorial Day flood), April 2016 (Tax Day Flood), August 2017 (Hurricane Harvey), and September 2019 (Tropical Storm Imelda) in Harris County, Texas; and ii) the effects of temporal and spatial aggregation scales on the performance of the MRMS system using a suite of statistical parameters. Point-to-grid comparisons were conducted between 142 rain gauges and MRMS system data during four extreme flood events. Overall, the MRMS system captured precipitation reasonably well with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.78, correlation coefficient (CC) of 0.88, root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.21 mm, critical success index (CSI) of 0.65, probability of detection (POD) of 0.98, and false alarm ratio (FAR) of 0.34 over Harris County at 15 min and 15 km temporal and spatial resolutions. The results indicate that MRMS product tends to underestimate higher precipitation rates and overestimate light precipitation. Coarser temporal resolutions from 5 min to 1 h resolved some of the overestimation issues. Temporal aggregation increased R2, CC, CSI, and error variances and decreased FAR. However, increasing spatial resolution from 1 to 30 km increased R2, CC, and CSI and reduced RMSE and FAR. A comparison of MPE QPE and MRMS products at hourly temporal resolution with gauge observations showed that both products estimate rainfall accurately for the four events. Still, on average, MRMS product has a slightly better agreement with rain gauge observations at 1-hr temporal resolution.
A Household View of Making Purchases on Margin: Focusing on Divergence in Investment Literacy and Advice Seeking Behavior

A great deal of research has studied the use of margin from an overall market perspective. However, very little has been observed regarding household decisions around margin use. The 2018 wave of the National Financial Capability Study Investor Survey provides unique insight into household margin use, and these new variables have made studying margin use on a household level possible. This study investigates the relation between both objective and subjective investment literacy, as well as the divergence in investment literacy and margin use. Results indicate that respondents who have a higher level of subjective investment literacy than objective investment literacy (investors who think they know more than they actually do) have a higher probability of buying on margin. This finding appears to be even more pronounced for respondents who receive investment advice from brokers compared to those who do not.
Crisis Standards of Care and COVID-19: What Did We Learn? How Do We Ensure Equity? What Should We Do?

COVID-19 has fundamentally challenged the delivery of health care services across the world, forcing difficult choices on health professionals and laying bare many preexisting health, medical, and public health sector frailties. Extreme shortages of key resources and worries that patients would not receive the care they needed were frequent features of the response beginning in the spring of 2020 and were recurrent during subsequent regional and national peaks. Crisis standards of care (CSC) occur when the degree of resource shortage requires decisions that place a patient or provider at risk of a poor outcome. These situations arose in most jurisdictions and required a systematic, coordinated response [1]. Often, state and health care CSC plans were used or revised, or they did not apply to the situations encountered. In several critical instances, potentially useful CSC plans were ignored or actively subverted. The authors of this paper describe some of the successes and shortfalls of CSC principles and practices during COVID-19 and identify issues to be addressed for future events. This paper focuses on hospital application of CSC, though emergency medical services (EMS) experienced similar issues. EMS and health care planning and response must be linked to ensure consistency of expectations as well as optimal patient distribution and redistribution. Both EMS and hospital resources and staff require stewardship during disasters, particularly ones that are protracted in nature. Recognition of clinical care interdependency (long-term care, EMS, hospitals, outpatient care) in planning and response is critical for avoiding CSC conditions and improving consistency across the spectrum of care as well as across any given geographic region. Revision of CSC doctrine is needed and should be a focus for health care institutions and local, state, and federal governments alike to ensure that the best care possible is delivered when the next disaster strikes. In the following sections, the authors discuss some key CSC domains as well as successes, issues, and action steps.
Sensory Profiling and Retailer Selection

After identifying selected characteristics of generic tomato juice, an experiment was conducted to enable a comparison of attribute ratings for generic tomato juice and two types of retail suppliers. Descriptive Analysis (QDA) techniques were used for collecting and analyzing the data. Three types of information were then plotted on appropriate polar axes: (1) ratings for selected product attributes prior to store identification, (2) changes in attribute perceptions after store identification, and (3) attribute ratings of retail suppliers after store identification. After connecting appropriate plotted points, different sensory profiles appeared in association with two different types of stores and their products. These profiles could be helpful to producers in selecting retailers who are likely to be most effective in marketing their products.
Size and culture as determinants of IT strategy in international supply chain management

INTRODUCTION The objective in supply chain management is to manage all activities associated with the flow of products and services from the beginning of the manufacturing or processing cycle through to the end-user [Handfield and Nichols, 1999]. The challenge is to manage this process in such a way as to establish collaborative alliances with strategic suppliers [Dyer, Co, Chu, 1998] and to explore ways in which the management of suppliers can be used to gain a competitive advantage in the industry [Porter and Millar, 1985]. Information technology plays a pivotal role in the firm’s ability to provide the information necessary to manage and control an effective alliance [Bowersox and Closs, 1996]. For Fortune 500 companies the achievement of an integrated and seamless supply chain systems is a formidable challenge. What about smaller organizations or suppliers located in the far corners of the globe? Do these variables affect the development of textbook IT supply chain systems? This paper looks at two organizations, one from South America and another from the US. Several conclusions are drawn about size and culture.
SUGARBEET YIELD MONITORING FOR SITE-SPECIFIC FARMING PART I–LABORATORY TESTS AND PRELIMINARY FIELD TESTS

A site-specific sugarbeet yield monitoring system was developed and tested. Two weight-sensing systems were developed, tested, and evaluated on a laboratory test conveyor. One system used 152 mm (6 in.) idler wheels attached to load cells. The instrumented idlers replaced an existing chain supporting idler on each side of the harvester outlet conveyor. The second system replaced two existing idlers on each side of the harvester outlet conveyor with slide bars covered with UHMW plastic. A product flow rate was obtained from the combined load cell outputs and conveyor speed. Laboratory tests to predict accumulated weight showed a 2.5% error for the slide bar system and a 3.5% error for the idler wheel system. As a result, field testing was performed exclusively with the slide bar weight-sensing system. Calibration was obtained by comparing accumulated truckload weight as indicated by the weight-sensing system to measured gross sugarbeet weight on individual trucks. Typical weight errors ranged from 2% to 3% with an average error of 2.3%. Site-specific yield information was derived from the sugarbeet flow, harvester speed and width, and DGPS receiver. Sugarbeet yield maps were developed as a visual management aid.
Instantons and Kähler geometry of nilpotent orbits

The first obstacle in building a Geometric Quantization theory for nilpotent orbits of a real semisimple Lie group has been the lack of an invariant polarization. In order to generalize the Fock space construction of the quantum mechanical oscillator, a polarization of the symplectic orbit invariant under the maximal compact subgroup is required.
Universal service in telephone history

Abstract The universality of telephone service is generally believed to be an achievement of regulated monopoly and rate subsidies. This paper critically examines the historical claims of what it terms the ideology of universal service. It shows that a ubiquitous telephone infrastructure developed in the USA because of competition between Bell and the independents in the period 1894–1921. Moreover, it shows that it was the refusal of Bell and the independents to interconnect with each other, a phenomenon which is generally ignored or condemned in the historical and economic literature, which propelled both systems into a race to achieve universality, leading to rapid increases in penetration and geographic scope, particularly in rural areas. The phrase universal service, which first emerged in telephone policy debates in 1907, did not mean a telephone in every home or rate subsidies, but the interconnection of the systems into a unified, non-fragmented service.
Acute heat stress responses of mice with sickle cell trait (1104.18)

It has been a long standing controversy about whether individuals with sickle cell trait (SCT) are vulnerable to injury or even sudden death during physical activity in hot climates. Experimental studies assessing susceptibility of SCT to heat stress are lacking. Our objective was to examine whether transgenic SCT mice had an altered thermoregulatory response to heat exposure. All SCT mice (n =16) and majority of age- and gender-matched normal mice (29 of 45) completed two separate heat tests (2 hr each at 39.5 degree C) without severe hyperthermia (42.4 degree C). SCT mice had a significantly lower body weight than normal mice (n = 19) with similar peak core temperature (Tc). There was no difference in weight loss between SCT and normal mice during heat exposure. No significant correlations between peak Tc and body weight were found among SCT or normal mice. Compared to their normal counterparts, both non-heat exposed (n = 9) and heat exposed SCT mice had significantly higher levels of heat shock protein...
Solving Boolean Satisfiability with Dynamic Hardware Configurations

Boolean satisfiability (SAT) is a core computer science problem with many important commercial applications. An NP-complete problem, many different approaches for accelerating SAT either in hardware or software have been proposed. In particular, our prior work studied mechanisms for accelerating SAT using configurable hardware to implement formula-specific solver circuits. In spite of this progress, SAT solver runtimes still show room for further improvement.
Origins of optical absorption characteristics of Cu2+ complexes in aqueous solutions

Many transition metal complexes exhibit infrared or visible optical absorption arising from d–d transitions that are the key to functionality in technological applications and biological processes. The observed spectral characteristics of the absorption spectra depend on several underlying physical parameters whose relative contributions are still not fully understood. Although conventional arguments based on ligand-field theory can be invoked to rationalize the peak absorption energy, they cannot describe the detailed features of the observed spectral profile such as the spectral width and shape, or unexpected correlations between the oscillator strength and absorption peak position. Here, we combine experimental observations with first-principles simulations to investigate origins of the absorption spectral profile in model systems of aqueous Cu2+ ions with Cl−, Br−, NO2− and CH3CO2− ligands. The ligand identity and concentration, fine structure in the electronic d-orbitals of Cu2+, complex geometry, and solvation environment are all found to play key roles in determining the spectral profile. Moreover, similar physiochemical origins of these factors lead to interesting and unexpected correlations in spectral features. The results provide important insights into the underlying mechanisms of the observed spectral features and offer a framework for advancing the ability of theoretical models to predict and interpret the behavior of such systems.
The lipid layer: the outer surface of the ocular surface tear film.

The outer layer of the tear film—the lipid layer—has numerous functions. It is a composite monolayer composed of a polar phase with surfactant properties and a nonpolar phase. In order to achieve an effective lipid layer, the nonpolar phase, which retards water vapor transmission, is dependent on a properly structured polar phase. Additionally, this composite lipid layer must maintain its integrity during a blink. The phases of the lipid layer depend on both lipid type as well as fatty acid and alcohol composition for functionality. Surprisingly, the importance of the composition of the aqueous layer of the tear film in proper structuring of the lipid layer has not been recognized. Finally, lipid layer abnormalities and their relationship to ocular disease are beginning to be clarified.
An exploratory investigation of family functioning for child inpatients: Implications for practice

This paper presents the results of an empirical investigation of family functioning for a sample of child and adolescent psychiatric inpatients. The McMaster Family Assessment Device, completed by patients and other family members at the time of the child's admission, provides an assessment of family competence in six areas; problem solving, communication, roles, affective communication, affective involvement, and behavior control. Results indicate that families of child and adolescent inpatients experience significant problems across all dimensions of family functioning. Further, patients report that family problems are more severe than do other family members. Implications of the study findings for social work practice are discussed.
Judging wine quality: Do we need experts, consumers or trained panelists?

Abstract A Descriptive Analysis panel, wine experts and consumers evaluated 27 Californian Cabernet Sauvignon wines with varying quality scores. Descriptive Analysis revealed several aroma and flavor descriptors driving quality scores. For all consumer segments as well as the wine experts, hedonic liking was shown to highly correlate to perceived quality, but for some consumers liking and perceived quality was not at all correlated to the quality scores of the wines. Wine experts were able to find significant differences in liking and quality, but did not agree completely with the assigned quality scores from the wine judgment. Wine experts also used a combination of both descriptive and hedonic terms when describing a high quality wine, indicating that they are better at communicating and describing what they like.
Predictors of children's health insurance coverage discontinuity in 1998 versus 2009: parental coverage continuity plays a major role.

To identify predictors of coverage continuity for United States children and assess how they have changed in the first 12 years since implementation of the Children’s Health Insurance Program in 1997. Using data from the nationally-representative Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, we used logistic regression to identify predictors of discontinuity in 1998 and 2009 and compared differences between the 2 years. Having parents without continuous coverage was the greatest predictor of a child’s coverage gap in both 1998 and 2009. Compared to children with at least one parent continuously covered, children whose parents did not have continuous coverage had a significantly higher relative risk (RR) of a coverage gap [RR 17.96, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 14.48–22.29 in 1998; RR 12.88, 95 % CI 10.41–15.93 in 2009]. In adjusted models, parental continuous coverage was the only significant predictor of discontinuous coverage for children (with one exception in 2009). The magnitude of the pattern was higher for privately-insured children [adjusted relative risk (aRR) 29.17, 95 % CI 20.99–40.53 in 1998; aRR 25.54, 95 % CI 19.41–33.61 in 2009] than publicly-insured children (aRR 5.72, 95 % CI 4.06–8.06 in 1998; aRR 4.53, 95 % CI 3.40–6.04 in 2009). Parental coverage continuity has a major influence on children’s coverage continuity; this association remained even after public health insurance expansions for children. The Affordable Care Act will increase coverage for many adults; however, ‘churning’ on and off programs due to income fluctuations could result in coverage discontinuities for parents. If parental coverage instability persists, these discontinuities may continue to have a negative impact on children’s coverage stability as well.
Climate and regional resource analysis: The effect of scale on resource homogeneity

General Circulation Models (GCMs) are currently used to project future climate. The output of the models is then used to evaluate the effect of a climatic change on resources such as agriculture, forestry, and water resources. The GCMs used in long-term climate studies vary widely in the geographic resolution of their predictions. The approximate matching of resource data to the geographic scale of GCMs is an important step in the evaluation of the effects of climatic change on resources. As gridcell size increases, however, the distribution of resources within cells becomes more heterogeneous, and it becomes more difficult to evaluate the regional effects of climatic change. We quantify the change in resource heterogeneity as a function of gridcell size. Four resource variables (wheat yield, percent forest cover, population density, and percent of land irrigated) are analyzed on the basis of county-averaged data, while assignment to major drainage basins is based on exact watershed boundaries. A major change in resource heterogeneity within gridcells occurs at a grid length of from 1.2° to 3°.
Evolving concepts of management of stable and potentially lethal arrhythmias.

Abstract Recent studies indicate that the eradication of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) by antiarrhythmic agents is an inadequate end point for estimating long-term protection against potentially lethal arrhythmias. In a study of survivors of prehospital ventricular fibrillation (VF), who have a 30% risk for recurrent VF during the first year of follow-up, we observed an apparent protection against recurrent VF by antiarrhythmic agents even if chronic PVCs were not suppressed by stable therapeutic plasma levels. To expand the data base pertinent to the relationships between PVCs and advanced arrhythmias, we studied six patients with chronic recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) and frequent PVCs between episodes of VT. Plasma levels of procainamide (PA) required to protect against recurrent VT averaged 9.4 ± 3.4 μg/ml, compared with mean levels of 14.9 ± 3.8 μg/ml for 85% suppression of PVCs ( p p
Pulsed room-temperature operation of a blue-green ZnSe quantum-well diode laser

Low-threshold current density operation has been obtained from (Zn, Cd)Se/Zn(S, Se) quantum-well diode lasers in the blue-green spectrum. The devices, with reflective facet coatings, have been operated at room temperature under pulsed conditions with threshold current densities of I(th) approximately 1 kA/cm(2).