cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hopf bifurcation, bistability, and onset of current-induced surface wave propagation on void surfaces in metallic thin films

Abstract We analyze the electromigration-induced stable wave propagation on surfaces of voids in metallic thin films based on self-consistent numerical simulations of current-driven surface morphological evolution according to a fully nonlinear continuum model. The void surface morphological response is studied for single-crystalline films with twofold and fourfold symmetry of surface diffusional anisotropy, characteristic of - and -oriented film planes in face-centered cubic (fcc) metals, respectively, and the effects of the electric-field strength, the surface diffusional anisotropy strength, and the void size are examined. Variation of the above parameters past critical values is found to cause transitions from stable steady to stable oscillatory morphological responses on voids migrating along the films at constant speed; these transitions are the result of Hopf bifurcation at the corresponding critical points. For every bifurcation parameter, the nature of the Hopf bifurcation is determined by the symmetry of the surface diffusional anisotropy on the film plane: the bifurcation is supercritical for fourfold symmetry and subcritical for twofold symmetry. The amplitude and frequency of the void surface oscillations are calculated as a function of the bifurcation parameters and the corresponding bifurcation diagrams are constructed. Our simulations reveal hysteresis phenomena and bistability in both cases of Hopf bifurcation, i.e., for both twofold and fourfold symmetry. For twofold symmetry, i.e., for subcritical Hopf bifurcations, the transitions are between a stable steady state and a stable time-periodic state. For fourfold symmetry, i.e., for supercritical Hopf bifurcations, the transitions may also be between two stable steady states; one of the two steady states bifurcates (upon further variation of the bifurcation parameter) to a time-periodic state at the corresponding Hopf point. The film’s electrical resistance evolution reflecting the void’s morphological evolution is monitored in the regime of oscillatory void morphological response and it is found to be in good agreement with experimental measurements in accelerated electromigration testing.
Cross-current instability generated by pick-up ions in the environment of a large spacecraft in low Earth orbit

Measurements from the space shuttle flights have revealed that a large spacecraft in a low Earth orbit is accompanied by an extensive gas cloud, which is primarily made up of water. The charge exchange between the water molecule and the ionospheric O/sup +/ ions produces a water ion beam traversing downstream of the spacecraft. The authors present results from a study on the linear and nonlinear behaviors of the waves generated by the interaction of the water ion beams with the ionospheric plasma. Since velocity distribution function is key to the understanding of the wave generation process, they have performed a test particle simulation to determine the nature of H/sub 2/O/sup +/ ions velocity distribution function. The simulations show that at, the time scales shorter than the ion-cyclotron period /spl tau//sub c/, the distribution function can be described by a beam. On the other hand, when the time scales are larger than /spl tau//sub c/, a ring distribution forms. A brief description of the linear instabilities driven by an ion beam streaming across a magnetic field in a plasma is presented. In order to study the nonlinear evolution of the waves, the author has performed 2.5-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations which show that transient amplitudes of the waves can be up to a few Volts/m at the lower-hybrid frequency. The frequency spectrum of the waves from the simulation shows that the water ion beam produces a broadband electric field noise extending in frequency up to a few times the ion plasma frequency. The simulations also reveal an enhanced electric field noise level near the electron cyclotron harmonics.
Letter by Berenfeld and Jalife regarding article "dominant frequency of atrial fibrillation correlates poorly with atrial fibrillation cycle length".

To the Editor: We read with interest the recent article by Elvan et al in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology .1 They compared the reliability of time-domain versus frequency-domain methods in determining the local activation rate in patients during atrial fibrillation (AF).2 The study provided potentially important information regarding the analysis of unipolar versus bipolar recordings. Unfortunately, essential details regarding the methods used for both the time-domain and the frequency-domain analyses were not presented. For example, information on the noise and frequency rejection criteria used for determination of AF cycle length in the time domain was nowhere to be found. Also crucial information on the …
Adaptive Robust Stabilization of a Family of Uncertain Nonlinear Systems by Output Feedback: The Non-polynomial Case

The problem of global state regulation by output feedback is investigated for a family of uncertain nonlinear systems that are bounded by a triangular system with unknown parameters. The bounding system is allowed to depend linearly on the unmeasurable states but nonlinearly on the systems output. Using the idea of universal control, together with the recent advance in nonlinear output feedback design, we develop a non-identifier based output feedback control scheme achieving, in the presence of nonlinear parameterizations, global asymptotic state regulation as well as boundedness of the closed-loop system. This conclusion was first announced in the work (H.Lei et al., 2006). Here, a complete proof is given.
Spatially resolved thermal analysis of high power LEDs using thermoreflectance imaging

2D thermoreflectance images of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) show lateral temperature variation with contact design. Thermoreflectance imaging of LEDs is quantitatively compared with standard bulk temperature measurements. Encapsulation improves heat dissipation and reduces optical reabsorption heating.
THE RELATIVE AFFINITY OF ANTIBODIES SYNTHESIZED IN THE SECONDARY RESPONSE

In response to a second injection of rabbits with a dinitrophenylated antigen, given 2 months to 2 yr after the first injection, there was rapid synthesis of large amounts of antibody high in relative affinity for the dinitrophenyl (DNP) determinant. The antibodies formed 3 days after restimulation were already high in affinity. Amounts of antigen too small to elicit detectable antibody production may prime the animal for a partial secondary response characterized by the formation of antibody of intermediate affinity after a second antigenic stimulus. Investigations into the specificity requirements for the secondary response indicated that variation in the carrier protein and in the haptenic determinant could be tolerated. Thus, after immunization with DNP-bovine γ-globulin, DNP-hemocyanin elicited the vigorous production of high affinity anti-DNP antibodies. However, DNP serum albumin was much less effective: it elicited a secondary response in some animals primed with DNP-bovine γ-globulin only when the interval between injections was increased from 10 to 28 wk. A secondary response was also evoked when the haptenic determinent of the second immunogen differed slightly from that of the one injected initially (i.e., 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl versus 2,4-dinitrophenyl).
RHIC pressure rise and electron cloud

In RHIC high intensity operation, two types of pressure rise are currently of concern. The first type is at the beam injection, which seems to be caused by the electron multipacting, and the second is the one at the beam transition, where the electron cloud is not the dominant cause. The first type of pressure rise is limiting the beam intensity and the second type might affect the experiments background for very high total beam intensity. In this article, the pressure rises at RHIC are described, and preliminary study results are reported. Some of the unsettled issues and questions are raised, and possible counter measures are discussed.
Fitness and cognitive processing speed in persons with multiple sclerosis: a cross-sectional investigation.

This cross-sectional study examined associations among aerobic capacity, muscle strength, balance, and cognitive processing speed (CPS) in 31 persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 31 matched controls. Participants completed neuropsychological tests and aerobic capacity (i.e., peak oxygen consumption), muscular strength (i.e., asymmetry between knee muscles), and balance (i.e., postural sway) assessments. Aerobic capacity (r = .27), postural sway (r = −.40), and knee extensor asymmetry (r = −.25) were associated with CPS in those with MS and accounted for differences in CPS between MS and control groups. Such cross-sectional data suggest that aerobic, balance, and resistance training might be avenues for improving CPS in this population. The authors report no conflicts of interest and thank Swathi Balantrapu, Jason Silberman, Stefanie Fitterer, and Rachel Japp for assistance in data acquisition.
A Eulerian/Lagrangian model to calculate the evolution of a water droplet spray

We introduce a Eulerian/Lagrangian model to compute the evolution of a spray of water droplets inside a complex geometry. To take into account the complex geometry we define a rectangular mesh and we relate each mesh node to a node function which depends on the location of the node. The time-dependent incompressible and turbulent Navier-Stokes equations are solved using a projection method. The droplets are regarded as individual entities and we use a Lagrangian approach to compute the evolution of the spray. We establish the exchange laws related to mass and heat transfer for a droplet by introducing a mass transfer coefficient and a heat transfer coefficient. The numerical results from our model are compared with those from the literature in the case of a falling droplet in the atmosphere and from experimental investigation in a wind tunnel in the case of a polydisperse spray. The comparison is fairly good. We present the computation of a water droplet spray inside a complex and realistic geometry and determine the characteristics of the spray in the vicinity of obstacles.
Cutaneous vascular and sudomotor responses to isometric exercise in humans.

To identify whether isometric handgrip exercise (IHG) affects cutaneous vasoconstrictor and/or active vasodilator activities, seven subjects (6 men and 1 woman) performed 30% maximal voluntary cont...
Pension Income of the Elderly and Characteristics of Their Former Employers

Retirees' receipt of pension income significantly affects their ability to maintain a standard of living similar to that of their preretirement years. Whether a retiree receives this type of income depends on characteristics of both the individuals and their former employers. This paper examines the characteristics of retirees and their former employers in relation to pension income recipiency. The Retirement and Pension Plan Coverage Topical Module of the 2001 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) is the dataset used for this analysis. Although the data are from 2003, they provide the most recent extensive information available on the characteristics of retirees' former employers and pension income. The PDF for the above title, published in the March 2007 issue of EBRI Notes, also contains the fulltext of another March 2007 EBRI Notes article abstracted on SSRN: "Retirement Annuity and Employment-Based Pension Income, Among Individuals Age 50 and Over: 2005."
Bayesian Methods for Microarray Data

Abstract Hierarchical Bayesian analysis is particularly useful in a microarray setting. Here, the “large p , small n ” problem, the large number of genes measured and the small number of chips and subjects, makes standard techniques prone to either low power or high false positive rates. The hierarchical model relates the numerous genes to each other and allows us to borrow strength across genes in order to better estimate expression levels and find differential expression. There is an added assumption incurred when using hierarchical models that the parameters of interest come from a common distribution (or mixture of distributions). With microarray data, the true expression values may plausibly arise from a common distribution of possible expression levels and parameter estimation is improved by borrowing across the many genes in the microarray to estimate the variation of expression measurements. The Bayesian model generates the joint posterior probability distribution of every parameter. This allows us to compute posterior probabilities for any event of interest (gene A is more down-regulated than gene B). We present first an overview of methods and concerns in microarray analysis followed by a review of current proposals for Bayesian methods in microarray analysis. We conclude with a complete example of an analysis with the code for implementing this in the appendix.
Depression ratings and antidepressant use among outpatient heart failure patients: implications for the screening and treatment of depression.

Objective:To investigate the characteristics of antidepressant use among heart failure (HF) outpatients.Methods:Self-reported data on antidepressant use, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) ratings, an...
High Order Overtone CO Laser

The paper presents the results of modeling the high overtone CO laser as well as the experimental results of a particular electric-discharge carbon monoxide broadband overtone laser that has been developed.. The laser is capable of operating on CO first overtone bands only (∆v = 2) and delivering up to 12 W cw power at efficiencies of up to 5%. The laser output consists of vibrational-rotational lines of the v = 9→7 to v = 35→33 overtone bands and covers the spectral range between 2.6 to 3.9 microns. A kinetic modeling code has been developed to predict the power, efficiency, and the output spectrum of overtone CO lasers. According to the calculation, a positive gain on higher overtone transitions (∆v = 3 and 4) may also be achieved by creating a total inversion population between vibrational levels of CO in the laser medium. Such total inversion can be created by lasing on certain fundamental (∆v = 1) transitions and burning a ‘hole’ in the vibrational distribution function. Lasing can be achieved in both c.w. and Q-switched modes. A design study of high order overtone CO laser has been performed and two possible embodiments of its design are proposed.
Intervening at the Setting Level to Prevent Behavioral Incidents in Residential Child Care: Efficacy of the CARE Program Model.

The current study examined the impact of a setting-level intervention on the prevention of aggressive or dangerous behavioral incidents involving youth living in group care environments. Eleven group care agencies implemented Children and Residential Experiences (CARE), a principle-based program that helps agencies use a set of evidence-informed principles to guide programming and enrich the relational dynamics throughout the agency. All agencies served mostly youth referred from child welfare. The 3-year implementation of CARE involved intensive agency-wide training and on-site consultation to agency leaders and managers around supporting and facilitating day-to-day application of the principles in both childcare and staff management arenas. Agencies provided data over 48 months on the monthly frequency of behavioral incidents most related to program objectives. Using multiple baseline interrupted time series analysis to assess program effects, we tested whether trends during the program implementation period declined significantly compared to the 12 months before implementation. Results showed significant program effects on incidents involving youth aggression toward adult staff, property destruction, and running away. Effects on aggression toward peers and self-harm were also found but were less consistent. Staff ratings of positive organizational social context (OSC) predicted fewer incidents, but there was no clear relationship between OSC and observed program effects. Findings support the potential efficacy of the CARE model and illustrate that intervening “upstream” at the setting level may help to prevent coercive caregiving patterns and increase opportunities for healthy social interactions.
Micro-Dynamics of Protests: The Political and Cultural Conditions for Anti-U.S. Beef Protests in South Korea

Theoretical developments on the temporalities of social movements have been grounded in both long-term and mid-term perspectives. This focus has obscured the processes of short-term mobilizations, ...
Physics: Invest in neutrino astronomy.

Spencer Klein calls for bigger telescope arrays to catch particles from the most energetic places in the Universe.
Comparison of aminobenzoate potassium and placebo in the treatment of scleroderma

Objective To determine the safety and efficacy of aminobenzoate potassium (KPAB) in treating the skin manifestations of scleroderma. Methods Via a 48-week prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial we compared the efficacy of KPAB 12 g/day with matching placebo. Outcome measures included skin mobility and thickening scores, patient and physician global assessments and, measurements of maximal oral aperture and hand range of motion. Results Of 146 patients who entered the study, 76 (52%) completed. Demographics of the study population included age 49 +/- 13 years, 83% women, mean (range) disease duration was 104 (7-600) months. There were no differences in the demographics of the KPAB vs placebo nor the group that completed the study compared with the withdrawal group. There were no clinical or statistically significant differences between the KPAB and the placebo treated groups in any of the outcome measures. Subgroup analyses of skin mobility and skin thickening based on age, extent of disease, severity of disease, duration of disease and involved vs uninvolved skin were performed, but no differences were noted. The overall compliance to the medical regimen was > or = 75% in 93% of patients completing the study. Eighteen patients in the KPAB group and 6 placebo patients withdrew due to adverse drug reactions (ADR). The most common withdrawals for ADR were gastrointestinal intolerance and headaches. All ADR resolved following withdrawal of medication. Conclusion KPAB did not alter the skin changes of scleroderma in a group of patients with relatively longstanding stable disease. KPAB was reasonably well tolerated in this group of patients.
Grand challenges in biomedical computing.

Advances in computing technology (both algorithms and hardware) over the next several years promise to make increasingly sophisticated computer modeling of biomedical phenomena a routine part of biomedical research. Improvements in both the absolute speed of processors and in their programming and graphics interfaces will allow nonexpert users to bring computing power equivalent to the supercomputers of a few years ago to bear on routine research problems and to display complex data in understandable ways (visualization). Although biomedical applications have traditionally not driven the leading edge of computing and supercomputing, such applications are increasingly being ported to advanced parallel and vector processors. This paper summarizes the current state of biomedical computing, citing examples of the best practice in research today. A number of projects enabled by advanced computing from various subdisciplines are described. Trends in technology for both inexpensive (workstation) and high-end computing (vector supercomputers and parallel processors) are cited; the implications of these for biomedical computing are discussed. "Grand challenges" in biomedical computing, i.e., computational problems of major scientific importance that are beyond our current capabilities but that might be achieved in a 5-year time frame, are outlined.
Communication: The origin of many-particle signals in nonlinear optical spectroscopy of non-interacting particles

Nonlinear spectroscopy signals detected by fluorescence from dilute samples of N non-interacting molecules are usually adequately described by simply multiplying the single molecule response by N. We show that signals that scale with higher powers of N are generated by the joint detection of several particles. This can be accomplished by phase sensitive detection such as phase cycling, photo-acoustic modulation, or by Hanbury-Brown Twiss photon coincidence. Such measurements can dissect the ensemble according to the number of excited particles.
One Size Does Not Fit All: Understanding Parent Engagement in the Contexts of Work, Family, and Public Schooling.

We examined how parents and educators in a low-income school conceptualize parental engagement, and how school, work, and family domains together shape these parties’ practices as well as understan...
FoxO1-autophagy axis regulates lipid droplet growth via FSP27

The cellular regulatory system known as autophagy is an essential degradation pathway by which the body removes cellular debris and recycles damaged components. During the process of adipogenesis, ...
Noise Reduction by Adaptive Threshold in Digital Signal Processing

Wide band digital signal processing systems are becoming increasily important due to the advance of high speed digital Fourier analyzers. This paper presents a new threshold scheme that adaptively reduces noise effect in a data processing system that receives signals corrupted by non-stationary colored noise. The corrupted signal is decomposed into spectral segments by a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) unit and the resulting spectrum is processed by an adaptive threshold unit. The adaptive threshold network is tasked to estimate the noise level and to subtract this noise estimate from the composite signal plus noise to arrive at a high quality signal. For each set of DFT outputs, a finite order polynomial is used to approximate the average noise level by least squares method. The key feature in this polynomial approach is the reduction of the number of parameters characterizing the threshold. The results of this work show that second order can be sufficient, hence comparing to actual number of spectral values (generally greater than 512), the polynomial approach represents a large reduction in computation time and hardware circuit elements. The adaptive algorithm used in this work to estimate the -parameters sequentially is derived from adaptive estimation theory, which has been successfully implemented in a digital signal processing system.
Assimilation of thermospheric measurements for ionosphere‐thermosphere state estimation

We develop a method that uses data assimilation to estimate ionospheric-thermospheric (IT) states during mid-latitude nighttime storm conditions. The algorithm Estimating Model Parameters from Ionospheric Reverse Engineering (EMPIRE) uses time-varying electron densities in the F-region, derived primarily from total electron content data, to estimate two drivers of the IT: neutral winds and electric potential. A Kalman filter is used to update background models based on ingested plasma densities and neutral wind measurements. This is the first time a Kalman filtering technique is used with the EMPIRE algorithm and the first time neutral wind measurements from 630.0-nm Fabry-Perot interferometers (FPI) are ingested to improve estimates of storm time ion drifts and neutral winds. The effects of assimilating remotely sensed neutral winds from FPI observations are studied by comparing results of ingesting: electron densities (N) only, N plus half the measurements from a single FPI, and then N plus all of the FPI data. While estimates of ion drifts and neutral winds based on N give estimates similar to the background models, this study's results show that ingestion of the FPI data can significantly change neutral wind and ion drift estimation away from background models. In particular, once neutral winds are ingested, estimated neutral winds agree more with validation wind data and estimated ion drifts in the magnetic field parallel direction are most sensitive as compared to field-perpendicular-zonal and -meridional directions. Also, data assimilation with FPI measurements helps provide insight into the effects of contamination to 630.0-nm emissions experienced during geomagnetic storms.
Does order matter? Investigating the effect of sequence on glance duration during on-road driving

Previous literature has shown that vehicle crash risks increases as drivers’ off-road glance duration increases. Many factors influence drivers’ glance duration such as individual differences, driving environment, or task characteristics. Theories and past studies suggest that glance duration increases as the task progresses, but the exact relationship between glance sequence and glance durations is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of glance sequence on glance duration among drivers completing a visual-manual radio tuning task and an auditory-vocal based multi-modal navigation entry task. Eighty participants drove a vehicle on urban highways while completing radio tuning and navigation entry tasks. Forty participants drove under an experimental protocol that required three button presses followed by rotation of a tuning knob to complete the radio tuning task while the other forty participants completed the task with one less button press. Multiple statistical analyses were conducted to measure the effect of glance sequence on glance duration. Results showed that across both tasks and a variety of statistical tests, glance sequence had inconsistent effects on glance duration—the effects varied according to the number of glances, task type, and data set that was being evaluated. Results suggest that other aspects of the task as well as interface design effect glance duration and should be considered in the context of examining driver attention or lack thereof. All in all, interface design and task characteristics have a more influential impact on glance duration than glance sequence, suggesting that classical design considerations impacting driver attention, such as the size and location of buttons, remain fundamental in designing in-vehicle interfaces.
Very small pediatric donor kidney transplantation in pediatric recipients

Kidneys from very small pediatric donors (age <5 years, weight <21 kg) may be a means to increase the donor pool for pediatric recipients. Transplantation of small pediatric kidneys is more commonly performed in adult recipients due to the increased risks of technical complications, thrombosis, and early graft failure. While these risks are abrogated in adult recipients by limiting the donor weight to ≥10 kg and using the EB technique, it is unknown whether pediatric recipients achieve comparable results. US national data were assessed for all first-time, deceased-donor, kidney-only pediatric recipients, 1/1996-10/2013, who received very small pediatric donor grafts or grafts from ideal adult donors. We identified 57 pediatric EB, 110 pediatric SK, and 2350 adult transplants. The primary outcome was 3-year all-cause graft survival. Kaplan-Meier curves showed worse outcomes for pediatric grafts compared to adult ideal grafts (P=.042). On multivariate analysis, pediatric recipients of SK grafts had significantly higher HRs (aHR 2.01, 95% CI 1.34-3.00) and pediatric recipients of EB grafts had somewhat higher non-significant HRs (1.57; 95% CI 0.88-2.79) for graft survival. These results suggest cautionary use of very small pediatric donors as a source to expand the donor pool for pediatric candidates.
Debtor-in-possession financing in bankruptcy

This chapter is forthcoming in an edited research handbook on corporate bankruptcy law. It reviews the theoretical and empirical scholarship on debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing, particularly as it bears on the more controversial features of DIP loans: financial terms such as cross-collateralization, roll-ups and avoidance protection, and control provisions in covenants that impose milestones and deadlines on the bankruptcy process. The paper highlights two fundamental challenges: what contract provisions are needed to mitigate the liquidity problem of the distressed debtor and whether these provisions lead to an inefficient distortion of asset-deployment decisions in bankruptcy.
Different ways to get to the same workplace: How does workplace location relate to commuting by different income groups?

Abstract We examine whether commonly-observed differences in commute behavior among different income groups are associated with the location of their workplaces. Using the Chicago metropolitan area as a case study, we classify six types of workplace locations to reflect the degree of employment centralization versus decentralization and the degree of employment clustering versus dispersion. Based on the 2008 Chicago Regional Household Travel Inventory, we found that low-income workers are more likely to work in centralized but dispersed workplaces, while high-income workers are more likely to work in employment clusters. The unequal distribution of workers in different workplaces, combined with distinctive commuting patterns to certain workplaces, partly explains commonly-observed commute differences, such as shorter-distance commutes and more public transit use by lower-income workers. Regression analysis shows that the association between income and commute mode varies by workplace, and, more importantly, commute mode has a greater association with workplace locations than with income. The results suggest considering workplace locations in empirical research on commuting inequalities and when establishing transportation and housing policies.
Optimized controls for ventilated wall cavities with spray evaporative cooling systems

Abstract Optimal control strategies have been developed to enhance the performance of ventilated cavity walls (VCWs) with spray evaporative cooling systems. In particular, the spray system and three dampers are operated to regulate water usage and cavity air flow in order to maintain indoor thermal comfort, reduce water usage, prevent mold growth risk, and minimize cooling energy consumption. The control strategies have been obtained through multi-objective optimization analysis using genetic algorithm search technique. In particular, it is found that the spray droplet size can be used as a control variable to effectively operate the VCW systems. For residential buildings in Riyadh, it is found that 30 μm droplets provided the best compromise between indoor thermal comfort, water use, and mold growth potential. The optimal control strategies have been obtained through two approaches: (i) long-term (i.e., one season or one year) optimization based on both outdoor and indoor conditions with a fixed droplet size, and (ii) short-term (i.e., one hour or one-day) optimization that includes the droplet size as a control variable in addition to outdoor and indoor conditions. Using the first approach, the optimal control strategies of buildings equipped with VCWs are found to be able to reduce cooling energy consumption by 23% compared to that used by buildings having conventional concrete walls. The second optimization approach indicates that VCW system is able to provide 100% cooling energy savings compared to the conventional walls. Moreover, the optimum control strategies for VCWs have found to reduce water usage by 78% and mold growth by 98% while maintaining indoor thermal comfort when compared to uncontrolled VCW system.
Philosophy of interculturality: philosophy of humanism for our time

ABSTRACTReferring to the philosophical reflection on interculturality as presented by Raul Fornet-Betancourt, I confront the process of globalization, which is based on a single economy, homogeniza...
Integrating water distribution energy flexibility in power systems operation

Water distribution systems (WDSs) are energy intensive infrastructures that rely on water storage plants and variable speed pumps for delivering water to the end consumers. The WDSs represent suitable candidates for enhancing the flexibility of power systems operation through optimizing the operation of flexible components (pumps and tanks). However, WDSs have traditionally been treated as infrastructure uncoupled from power system operators' efforts to minimize the operation cost of supplying the electricity demand. In this paper, we propose a model for integrating the energy flexibility of WDSs in power systems operation. More specifically, we consider the water distribution system operators (W-DSOs) as an energy savvy entity, who forecast the water demand as well as the electricity prices of the next day, and run the proposed day-ahead WDS operation model to optimize the operation of pumps and tanks for minimizing the operation cost of their local WDSs, while respecting the hydraulic operating constraints of the WDSs. The W-DSOs, then, send the optimized energy consumption to the power system operator, who incorporates the energy consumption of WDSs in the day-ahead operation of the power system using the network-constrained unit commitment (UC) model. The proposed model is implemented on a 15-node WDS that is powered by a 6-bus power system and the results are presented to study the impacts of optimizing the WDS energy flexibility on power system operations as well as on the W-DSOs.
Students Vote: A Comparative Study of Student Perceptions of Three Popular Web-Based Student Response Systems

One way to use formative feedback to increase student engagement is through a student response system (SRS). Originally appearing as classroom “clickers,” very little literature exists concerning the ease of use, usefulness and integration, and overall satisfaction of current SRS software smartphone applications. Using the technology acceptance model as a guide, this study uses a mixed methods approach concerning student perceptions of three distinct SRS used in multiple sections of a university undergraduate statistics course. The quantitative results demonstrated significant differences between SRS, while follow-up qualitative questions clarified the Likert-scale data. “All else being equal, the easier system is to interact with, the less effort needed to operate it, the more effort one can allocate the other activities” (Davis 1989, p. 334). With all data considered, students preferred the Socrative app over both TopHat and Learning Catalytics.
Replacement Migration: Is it a Solution to Declining and Aging Populations?

This report looks at the recent publication prepared by the UN Population Division which examines the demographic situation in most advanced nations, but especially in Europe. With fertility at incredibly low rates, the question must be asked: “Will Europe run out of people?” The UN report looks at how much immigration would be needed to maintain current population size, assuming that fertility rates remain at present levels. In this review, the implications of such momentous movements are also discussed.
Examples of curves

The principal objects of study in algebraic geometry are algebraic varieties. In this introductory chapter, which is more informal in nature than those that follow, we shall define algebraic varieties and give some examples; we then give the reader an intuitive look at a few properties of a special class of varieties, the “complex algebraic curves.” These curves are simpler to study than more general algebraic varieties, and many of their simply-stated properties suggest possible generalizations. Chapter II is essentially devoted to proving some of the properties of algebraic curves described in this chapter.
Examining carry‐over effects of winter habitat on breeding phenology and reproductive success in prairie warblers Setophaga discolor

Winter habitat quality can influence breeding phenology and reproductive success of migratory birds. Using stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ13C) from bird claws and red blood cells collected in Massachusetts, USA, we assessed if winter habitat occupancy carried over to affect prairie warbler Setophaga discolor breeding arrival dates, body condition upon arrival, pairing success, first-egg dates and reproductive success. In two of three years (in 2011 and 2012, but not in 2013), after-second-year (ASY) males wintering in drier habitat, as indicated by enriched δ13C values, arrived later on the breeding grounds. Based on the North Atlantic Oscillation index, there was likely less rainfall in the Caribbean wintering grounds during the winters of 2011 and 2012 compared to the winter of 2013, suggesting increased winter rainfall in 2013 may have diminished the influence of winter habitat occupancy on arrival date. We did not find any effects of winter habitat on breeding season phenomena for second-year (SY) males or females, but our sample sizes for these age/sex classes were relatively low. Although winter habitat quality influenced arrival dates of ASY males, there was no evidence that it affected reproductive performance, perhaps because of high rates of nest depredation in our system. Our study adds to a growing body of research that shows the influence of carry-over effects can differ among species and within populations, and also can be modulated by other environmental conditions. This information enriches our understanding of the role of carry-over effects in population limitation for migratory birds.
The impact of chronotype on prosocial behavior.

Introduction Chronotype (morningness/eveningness) is associated with preference for the timing of many types of behavior, most notably sleep. Chronotype is also associated with differences in the timing of various physiologic events as well as aspects of personality. One aspect linked to personality, prosocial behavior, has not been studied before in the context of chronotype. There are many variables contributing to who, when, and why one human might help another and some of these factors appear fixed, while some change over time or with the environment. It was our intent to examine prosocial behavior in the context of chronotype and environment. Methods Randomly selected adults (N = 100, ages 18–72) were approached in a public space and asked to participate in a study. If the participants consented (n = 81), they completed the reduced Morning-Eveningness Questionnaire and the Stanford Sleepiness Scale, then prosocial behavior was assessed. Results/Conclusions We found that people exhibited greater prosocial behavior when they were studied further from their preferred time of day. This did not appear to be associated with subjective sleepiness or other environmental variables, such as ambient illumination. This suggests the importance of appreciating the differentiation between the same individual’s prosocial behavior at different times of day. Future studies should aim at replicating this result in larger samples and across other measures of prosocial behavior.
Impact of a Quality Improvement Infection Risk Reduction Program on Pathogen Presence in High School and Collegiate Athletic Training Room Facilities

Objectives:Athletic training rooms have a high prevalence of bacteria, including multidrug resistant organisms, increasing the risk for both local and systematic infections in athletes. There is li...
Comparison of sustained deficit and pre- and postveraison regulated deficit irrigation on Malbec and Syrah grapevines.

The objective of this study was to compare the effect of sustained deficit irrigation and regulated deficit irrigation strategies on the yield components and berry composition of two winegrape cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.) that differ in their hydraulic behavior. Malbec and Syrah grapevines were grown in southern Idaho under arid conditions and were drip-irrigated weekly from fruit set until harvest to supply 35 or 70% of estimated vine water demand that was delivered either as a sustained amount (35, 70) or the amount was altered at veraison (3570, 7035). In both cultivars, the 7035 and 35 treatments produced fruit with a greater concentration of anthocyanins and phenolics than the 3570 and 70 treatments. In both cultivars, the yield of the 7035 treatment was ~30% greater than the 35 treatment and ~15% lower than the 70 treatment. The 7035 treatment was provided ~58% more water than the 35 treatment and ~20% less water than the 70 treatment. In both cultivars, the 3570 and 7035 treatments had a similar ratio of yield reduction to water savings, similar carbon isotope composition, and similar seasonal average weekly midday leaf water potential. The 3570 and 35 treatments had greater bud injury (low pruning weight and low cluster number per vine) and slower recovery from injury than the 7035 and 70 treatments after exposure to an extreme cold weather event. Despite inherent differences in carbon isotope composition, the 70 and 7035 treatments offer the best potential in both cultivars for sustained productivity under challenging climatic conditions.
Representing gender and defaults: Evidence from Lithuanian

This study examines gender representation and defaults in Lithuanian by investigating the inflection on predicative adjectives (PAs). We provide novel evidence for two types of defaults in the representation of gender, masculine being the unmarked gender, and neuter being the absence of gender. It is demonstrated that neuter PAs appear when the subject lacks gender features accessible for agreement with the PA, which we refer to as non-agreement. In contrast, masculine PAs appear when the PA agrees with a subject bearing an unmarked gender feature. We analyze masculine and feminine as sharing a feature [GEND] that originates on n, the locus of gender features (following Lecarme 2002; Lowenstamm 2008; Kramer 2015; 2016), with the default gender – the masculine – bearing only this feature, and the more marked gender – the feminine – having an additional feature [FEM]. Neuter corresponds to the absence of these features. By placing gender features on the nominalizing head n, our account explicitly relates the distribution of gender inflection to nominal syntax and agreement.
Microring resonators on a suspended membrane circuit for atom-light interactions

Creating strong coupling between quantum emitters and a high-fidelity photonic platform has been a central mission in the fields of quantum optics and quantum photonics. Here, we describe the design and fabrication of a scalable atom–light photonic interface based on a silicon nitride microring resonator on a transparent silicon dioxide-nitride multi-layer membrane. This new photonic platform is fully compatible with freespace cold atom laser cooling, stable trapping, and sorting at around 100 nm from the microring surface, permitting the formation of an organized, strongly interacting atom–photonic hybrid lattice. We demonstrate small radius (around 16 μm) microring and racetrack resonators with a high quality factor (Q) of 3.2×105, projecting a single atom cooperativity parameter (C) of 25 and a vacuum Rabi frequency (2g) of 2π×340 MHz for trapped cesium atoms interacting with a microring resonator mode. We show that the quality factor is currently limited by the surface roughness of the multi-layer membrane, grown using low-pressure chemical vapor deposition processes. We discuss possible further improvements to a quality factor above 5×106, potentially achieving a single atom cooperativity parameter higher than 500 for strong single atom–photon coupling. Our microring platform may also find applications in on-chip solid-state quantum photonics.
A Study of Tourist Motivation toward Destination Loyalty: Targeting European Tourists Travelling to Phuket

This quantitative research aimed to study tourist motivation toward destination loyalty by focusing on European tourists who travel to Phuket, where is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 200 respondents to collect the primary data, while multiple regression and path analyses were employed to test the research hypotheses. The results of the survey revealed that push and pull factors had directly positive influences on destination loyalty to Phuket. Additionally, the study also proved that push and pull factors were indirectly affected by destination loyalty via tourist satisfaction. To maintain and retrieve European tourists to Phuket, safety and security systems and the quality of tourist attractions and infrastructures in Phuket should be well-maintained. Moreover, tourism stakeholders in Phuket should focus on the important aspects of push and pull factors, so they can attract not only European tourists, but also other markets to boost tourist satisfaction.
The Underlying Economic Components of Acquired Goodwill

In this study, we investigate what makes up acquired goodwill and find that it consists of at least three distinct components: expected synergies from combining the assets of the target and acquirer, the going concern value of the target firm, and overpayment. We identify these components empirically through a factor analysis on target, acquirer, and acquisition characteristics. We then document that acquired goodwill is positively associated with the synergy value, going concern value, and residual components. Further, we predict and find that going concern value and expected synergies are associated with a lower risk of future goodwill impairment, but that synergies reduce the risk of goodwill impairment more than the going concern value component. We also find that overpayment is associated with a greater risk of future goodwill impairment. The evidence we provide on the nature of acquired goodwill is important to understand how to account for goodwill subsequent to the acquisition, as each of these components have a different effect on the future cash inflows to the entity. Our findings suggest that a one-size-fits-all subsequent accounting alternative for goodwill may be difficult to apply due to heterogeneity in the economic components of goodwill.
Syphilitic Outer Retinopathy: A Masquerading Diagnosis Revealed After Steroid-Induced Progression to Panuveitis

Purpose To report a case of syphilitic outer retinopathy revealed after progression to panuveitis following a course of oral steroids for suspected poison ivy. Methods Retrospective case report. Results A 44-year-old diabetic man presented with progressive symptoms of nyctalopia and color vision changes associated with outer retinal disruption on macular imaging but minimal evidence of intraocular inflammation on examination. A short-course of oral steroids for an unrelated skin condition induced rapid progression to frank panuveitis with retinal vascular sheathing and retinal whitening. Systemic work-up identified syphilis as the etiology. The patient's visual symptoms and disruption of the photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelial layers on OCT improved after treatment with intravenous penicillin. Conclusion Syphilitic outer retinopathy (SOR) represents an unusual manifestation of ocular syphilis that can present with minimal exam findings. We present here a case of oral steroid use resulting in progression of SOR to a more fulminant form of syphilitic uveitis which ultimately revealed the correct diagnosis and prompted the correct intervention. This case highlights the importance of maintaining a high level of suspicion for this treatable condition.