cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Controlled microparticle separation using whispering gallery mode forces

Abstract There is a wide variety of applications that require sorting and separation of micro-particles from a large cluster of similar objects. Existing methods can distinguish micro-particles by their bulk properties, such as their size, density, and electric polarizability. These methods, however, are not selective with respect to the individual geometry of the particles. In this work, we focus on the use of a resonance effect between a microparticle and an evanescent light field known as the Whispering Gallery Mode (WGM) force. The WGM force is highly sensitive to the radius of the particle and is both controllable and tunable. In this paper, we explore through simulation the design of a WGM-based device for micro-particle separation. In this device, particles flow in through an inlet and are carried over two actuation regions given by waveguides carrying laser light to generate the evanescent field. Particles are observed by a camera, allowing for feedback control on the power of the lasers. While the basic control structure is simple, there are several challenges, including unknown disturbances to the fluid flow, limited laser power, and uni-directional control over each actuation region. We combine Expectation Maximization with Kalman filtering to both estimate the unknown disturbance and filter the measurements into a position estimate. We then develop simple hybrid controllers and compare them to the ideal setting (without any constraints) based on a Linear-Quadratic-Gaussian (LQG) control approach.
The Election of Donald J. Trump as President of the U.S. Should Wake America Up

This project was an effort to better understand how assessments of theories are developed and information is analyzed and gained through Grounded Theory qualitative research methods. We were charged to assemble participants for a Focus Group. It was suggested that we utilize methods recommended by Creswell & Poth (2018), Maxwell (2013), and Merriam & Grenier (2019) to assist with establishing our formats to facilitate this project. Those authors identify that the emphasis in Grounded Theory qualitative research is not about the actual narrative or phenomenon being brought to light, but is more about telling the story, and communicating through evaluations of the results leading to the development of theories derived from deep analysis of those results. The Focus Group viewed a video of a speech Mitt Romney gave in March 2016. The speech was during the 2016 Republican Primary Campaign period. In that speech, Mr. Romney denounced Donald Trump and presented several reasons he believed that Trump was not the best candidate to represent the Republican Party as their nominee for President of the United States. The theories that emerged were that politics is full of deception, lies, and bullying and that the American voters and especially the Republican Party have allowed the nation to go down an unprecedented path that may lead to the need for additional amendments to the U.S. Constitution. New anti-bullying policies and laws with real negative consequences need to be initiated to begin efforts to change the American political narrative with the hope of guiding us to a more equitable political environment and back to elevated levels of decency and morality.
Implications of Zero Rating Programs on Consumer Welfare

In the past few years, Mobile Service Providers (MSPs), such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless, have introduced several zero-rating programs, allowing participating Content Providers (CPs) to pay for data usage for accessing their contents on behalf of consumers. However, some worry that MSP may be incentivized to increase prices and reduce data caps of existing data plans after the introduction of zero-rating programs and thus hurt welfare of customers of a MSP's existing data plans. We develop a model-based approach to analyze MSP's profit-maximizing offering of data plans and the influence of zero rating on their decisions. We analyze a set of plausible scenarios on the changes of subscribers' data usage requirements and willingness to pay based on our observations of zero- rating programs. In each scenario, we carry out numerical experiments to examine the change of consumer welfare for each group of customers before and after the introduction of zero-rating program. Our numerical results show that consumer welfare implications of zero rating differ significantly for subscriber groups associated with different data usage requirements and willingness to pay. In particular, our analysis highlights the point that zero rating affects MSPs' ability to price-discriminate their subscribers, and the extent and implication of this impact depends on how data usage requirements and willingness to pay is correlated, and how the correlation is changed by zero rating.
Assessing Robustness of Hyperdimensional Computing Against Errors in Associative Memory : (Invited Paper)

Brain-inspired hyperdimensional computing (HDC) is an emerging computational paradigm that has achieved success in various domains. HDC mimics brain cognition and lever-ages hyperdimensional vectors with fully distributed holographic representation and (pseudo)randomness. Compared to the traditional machine learning methods, HDC offers several critical advantages, including smaller model size, less computation cost, and one-shot learning capability, making it a promising candidate in low-power platforms. Despite the growing popularity of HDC, the robustness of HDC models has not been systematically explored. This paper presents a study on the robustness of HDC to errors in associative memory—the key component storing the class representations in HDC. We perform extensive error injection experiments to the associative memory in a number of HDC models (and datasets), sweeping the error rates and varying HDC configurations (i.e., dimension and data width). Empirically, we observe that HDC is considerably robust to errors in the associative memory, opening up opportunities for further optimizations. Further, results show that HDC robustness varies significantly with different HDC configurations such as data width. Moreover, we explore a low-cost error masking mechanism in the associative memory to enhance its robustness.
Are all biases missing data problems

Estimating causal effects is a frequent goal of epidemiologic studies. Traditionally, there have been three established systematic threats to consistent estimation of causal effects. These three threats are bias due to confounders, selection, and measurement error. Confounding, selection, and measurement bias have typically been characterized as distinct types of biases. However, each of these biases can also be characterized as missing data problems that can be addressed with missing data solutions. Here we describe how the aforementioned systematic threats arise from missing data as well as review methods and their related assumptions for reducing each bias type. We also link the assumptions made by the reviewed methods to the missing completely at random (MCAR) and missing at random (MAR) assumptions made in the missing data framework that allow for valid inferences to be made based on the observed, incomplete data.
The Politics of Rightness

The Russian Orthodox Church is Russia's "official" national religion, and its attitudes toward other denominations are ambivalent at best. Thus, the collaboration of Orthodox and non-Orthodox Christian congregations in support of social welfare programs offers an instructive example of successful interfaith initiatives in Russia.
Buddhist Fundamentalism and Minority Identities in Sri Lanka

Buddhist Fundamentalism and Minority Identities in Sri Lanka. Tessa J. Bartholomeusz and Chandra R. de Silva. eds. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1998. 212 pp.
Structure and Efficient Hessian Calculation

Modern methods for numerical optimization calculate (or approximate) the matrix of second derivatives, the Hessian matrix, at each iteration. The recent arrival of robust software for automatic differentiation allows for the possibility of automatically computing the Hessian matrix, and the gradient, given a code to evaluate the objective function itself. However, for large-scale problems direct application of automatic differentiation may be unacceptably expensive. Recent work has shown that this cost can be dramatically reduced in the presence of sparsity. In this paper we show that for structured problems it is possible to apply automatic differentiation tools in an economical way even in the absence of sparsity in the Hessian. Keywords: Hessian matrix, automatic differentiation, structured computation, sparsity.
Consequences of reperfusion after coronary occlusion. Effects on hemodynamic and regional myocardial metabolic function.

Abstract Hemodynamic and regional metabolic measurements were obtained in seven closed chest dogs during a control period, 3 hours of coronary occlusion and 5 hours of reperfusion. Reperfusion resulted in intermittent ectopic arrhythmias in five dogs and severe shock in two. It usually caused increases in heart rate, coronary sinus flow and maximal isovolumetric rate of rise in left ventricular pressure (dP/dt), which were associated with a decrease in systemic pressure, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, systemic vascular resistance and stroke work. A transitory increase in cardiac output occurred. Global myocardial oxygen consumption, which was reduced during occlusion, increased with reperfusion. Reperfusion induced abnormal lactate metabolism and myocardial potassium loss in the previously occluded area and often in the nonoccluded segment as well. Histopathologic changes of accelerated necrosis, reactive hyperemia and hemorrhage were often noted after reperfusion. These studies indicate that reperfusion after 3 hours of occlusion caused serious abnormalities in hemodynamic states, metabolic function and morphologic features of the heart.
The Long-Run Performance of Firms that Withdraw Seasoned Equity Offerings

We examine the long-run stock price and operating performance of companies that withdraw seasoned equity offerings. Firms that withdraw an offering provide an opportunity to examine the long-run impact of the intent to issue shares, independent of any agency problems that might be intensified by the actual acquisition of equity capital. As in completed SEOs, long-horizon stock returns to sample firms are substantially lower than returns to control firms. Long-run operating performance is similarly poor. Long run stock price performance is worst among high market-to-book assets firms that withdraw equity issues in hot SEO markets. The evidence is consistent with a model in which firms attempt to sell overvalued shares to a market that doesn't react sufficiently to the implications of the action, even if the shares are not actually issued.
Nuclear gluon shadowing via dileptons from open charm decay in p + A at s=200 AGeV

Abstract Opposite-sign lepton pairs ( ee , eμ and μμ) from open charm decay are proposed as a measure of nuclear shadowing effects. Via an approximate scaling the ratio of the dilepton spectra from p + A to those from pp reflects the shadowing function well. We show that the required measurements are feasible at the Relativistic Heavy ion Collider (RHIC) by considering the backgrounds according to the proposed PHENIX detector geometry.
IL-18 Contributes to Host Resistance Against Infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa Through Induction of IFN-γ Production

Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis destroys the cornea in susceptible (B6), but not resistant (BALB/c) mice. To determine mechanisms mediating resistance, the role of IFN-γ, IL-12, and IL-18 was tested in BALB/c mice. RT-PCR analysis detected IFN-γ mRNA expression levels in cornea that were significantly increased at 1–7 days postinfection. IL-18 mRNA was detected constitutively in cornea and, at 1–7 days postinfection, levels were elevated significantly, while no IL-12 mRNA was similarly detected. To test whether IL-18 contributed to IFN-γ production, mice were treated with anti-IL-18 mAb. Treatment decreased corneal IFN-γ mRNA levels, and bacterial load and disease increased/worsened, compared with IgG-treated mice. To stringently examine the role of IFN-γ in bacterial killing, knockout (−/−) vs wild-type (wt) mice also were tested. All corneas perforated, and bacterial load was increased significantly in −/− vs wt mice. Because disease severity was increased in IFN-γ−/− vs IL-18-neutralized mice, and since IL-18 also induces production of TNF, we tested for TNF-α in both groups. ELISA analysis demonstrated significantly elevated corneal TNF-α protein levels in IFN-γ−/− vs wt mice after infection. In contrast, RT-PCR analysis of IL-18-neutralized vs IgG-treated infected mice revealed decreased corneal TNF-α mRNA expression. Next, to resolve whether TNF was required for bacterial killing, TNF-α was neutralized in BALB/c mice. No difference in corneal bacterial load was detected in neutralized vs IgG-treated mice. These data provide evidence that IL-18 contributes to the resistance response by induction of IFN-γ and that IFN-γ is required for bacterial killing.
Daily Affect and Female Sexual Function

Abstract Introduction The specific affective experiences related to changes in various aspects of female sexual function have received little attention as most prior studies have focused instead on the role of clinical mood and anxiety disorders and their influence on sexual dysfunction. Aim We sought to understand the transaction between daily affect and female sexual function in effort to provide a more nuanced understanding of the interplay between affective and sexual experiences. Methods The present study used a 2‐week daily diary approach to examine same‐day and temporal relations between positive and negative affect states and sexual function in young women. Main Outcome Measures We examined the unique relations between positive (i.e., joviality, serenity, self‐assurance) and negative (i.e., fear, sadness, hostility) affects and female sexual response (i.e., desire, subjective arousal, vaginal lubrication, orgasmic function, and sexual pain) while controlling for higher order sexual distress, depression, and anxiety, as well as age effects and daily menstruation. Results Analyses revealed different aspects of both positive and negative affects to be independently related to sexual response indices. Specifically, results indicated that joviality was related to same‐day sexual desire and predicted increased desire the following day. This latter relation was partially mediated by sexual activity. Further, greater sexual desire predicted next‐day calmness, which was partially mediated by sexual activity. Notably, fear was related to same‐day subjective arousal, lubrication, orgasmic function, and vaginal pain, whereas poorer orgasmic function predicted greater next‐day sadness. Conclusions These findings describe the manner in which changes in affect correspond to variations in female sexual function, thus highlighting the inextricability of mental and sexual health. Further, these findings may offer insight into the progression of normative levels of affect and sexual function as they develop into comorbid depression, anxiety, and sexual dysfunction. Kalmbach DA and Pillai V. Daily affect and female sexual function. J Sex Med 2014;11:2938–2954.
When Believers Encounter Early Intervention

This paper explores a point of contact between religion, spirituality, and the care of very young children with disabilities: the assessment interview and team meeting. One case study is presented, and interpreted in a contrast between biomedical and interactional models of disability (Smart & Smart, 2006). Issues are addressed in the larger context of the relationship between religious values and early intervention, and implications for training of interventionists.
Plasmapause Equatorial Shape Determination via the Minimum L Algorithm: Description and Evaluation

Algorithms for determination of the equatorial shape of the plasmapause using NASA IMAGE Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) imagery are considered. Focus is on the Minimum L Algorithm, which operates without human intervention given a single EUV image in which the plasmasphere silhouette boundary has been identified. For each line of sight (LOS) through pixels on the plasmasphere silhouette boundary, the algorithm first finds all magnetic dipole field lines intersected by the LOS and then returns as the plasmasphere's boundary the field line with the minimum L value. An analysis of the reasonableness, applicability, and accuracy of the algorithm is presented, and it is contrasted with the well-known Edge Algorithm [Roelof and Skinner, 2000]. A revised version of the Edge Algorithm is also introduced. Application of all three algorithms to real EUV imagery is demonstrated.
Pervaporation of water from aqueous hydriodic acid and iodine mixtures using Nafion® membranes

Abstract The sulfur–iodine (S–I) process for generation of hydrogen has been proposed as a thermochemical cycle for study due to its predicted high efficiencies. Improvements in the cycle that will yield the greatest gain in both operating and capital costs involve chemical separations. To date, membrane processes have been largely unexplored. In this work, a materials compatibility study into the application of Nafion-117 ® and Nafion-112 ® as membranes for the pervaporation of water from aqueous mixtures of hydriodic acid (HI) and HI/iodine at 134 °C was conducted. Significant water permeability was measured with respect to feed water concentration, and high separation factors were calculated. Most surprisingly, HI and HI/iodine feeds acted very differently in that HI–iodine complexes formed result in higher fluxes and separation factors than what was observed for HI alone.
Oral candidiasis in Sjögren's syndrome: prevalence, clinical correlations, and treatment.

Red, nonulcerated, uncomfortable oral mucosal lesions that are often thought to be caused by chronic xerostomia develop in some patients with Sjogren's syndrome (SS). However, we find that these lesions (1) clinically resemble chronic atrophic candidiasis (CAC), (2) usually yield Candida species from their surface, and (3) can be eliminated by topical antifungal drugs in spite of continuing xerostomia. In 246 patients who had primary or secondary SS, we correlated the presence or absence of atrophic oral mucosal lesions with the patient's salivary function and other clinical features. The 91 patients (37%) who had these lesions were older, had a greater frequency of primary SS and of oral symptoms, had had oral symptoms for a longer period, had more salivary gland inflammation, and had lower stimulated parotid flow rates than the 155 patients without CAC (p less than 0.05). However, unstimulated whole salivary flow rates and denture status were not significantly different. Topical antifungal treatment, begun on 47 patients, eliminated lesions in some. The methods of treating CAC are discussed. Candida-associated oral mucosal lesions do not develop in all patients with SS, but in susceptible patients, SS leads to a reversible form of CAC that is not associated with dentures.
Psychological contracts and OCB: The effect of unfulfilled obligations on civic virtue behavior

This study examines the relationship between violation of an employee's psychological contract and civic virtue behavior. A psychological contract is a set of beliefs regarding mutual obligations between employee and employer. One hundred twenty-six MBA alumni were surveyed at the time of hire (T1), and after 18 months (T2) and 30 months (T3) on the job. When employees felt that their employers had failed to fulfil employment obligations at T2, they were less likely to engage in civic virtue behavior at T3. There was evidence that this relationship was partly mediated by trust. These findings have implications for research on OCB and for managers seeking to maintain employee citizenship behavior.
Impact of Ethnicity on the Incidence of High-Risk Endometrial Carcinoma

Abstract Objective. To evaluate the impact of race/ethnicity on histology in endometrial cancer. Methods. California Cancer Registry data on 11,674 white and 423 black women with endometrial cancer registered from 1988 to 1992 were used to compare the average annual age-adjusted incidence rate/100,000 women of low-risk (grades 1 and 2 endometrioid adenocarcinoma) and high-risk (grade >2 endometrioid carcinomas, papillary serous, clear cell, and adenosquamous histologies) lesions in black and white women. Results. Of the white patients, 9059 (78%) had low-risk and 2615 (22%) had high-risk lesions. Of the black patients, 236 (56%) had low-risk and 187 (44%) had high-risk lesions. The overall average annual age-adjusted incidence of endometrial cancer in white women is 20.1/100,000 and for black women is 9.4/100,000; however, the incidence of low-risk tumors is 15.9/100,000 in white women and only 5.3/100,000 in black women. The incidence of high-risk disease is identical in black and white women (4.2/100,000). Conclusions. Black women in the general population have the same likelihood as white women of developing high-risk endometrial cancer. Black women have a significantly lower incidence of low-risk tumors compared to white women. The increased incidence of low-grade lesions in white women may be due to differences in socioeconomic factors or other factors yet to be identified.
Metal-insulator transition in semiconductor alloys probed by persistent photoconductivity

The metal-insulator transition (MIT) caused purely by alloy disorder in a ${\mathrm{Zn}}_{0.3}$${\mathrm{Cd}}_{0.7}$Se semiconductor alloy has been probed by using persistent photoconductivity. Key parameters that describe the MIT, including the critical electron concentration ${\mathit{n}}_{\mathit{c}}$ and the energy tail states distribution parameter ${\mathit{E}}_{0}$, have been determined experimentally. Our results, together with those obtained for impurity-doped and amorphous semiconductors, provide a complete picture of the MIT in different systems.
Determination of spontaneous emission rate from RIN data

Abstract RIN data are analyzed to obtain values of spontaneous emission rate R sp . The values are compared with a new theoretical prediction and agreement is obtained without the use of fitting parameters. In addition to the agreement with experiment, the new theoretical expression is distinct from existing expressions since no empirical parameters are involved.
Development of a Guinea Pig Model for Low-Dose, Long-Term Exposure to Organophosphorus Nerve Agents

An animal dosing model and related maximum tolerated dose (MTD) were developed for repeated exposures in guinea pigs to three organophosphorus chemical warfare nerve agents (CWNA). Male animals were injected subcutaneously with sarin (GB), soman (GD) or VX once a day (Monday through Friday) for 2-, 4-, or 13-weeks. An initial 13-week study for each CWNA employed doses of vehicle (normal saline), 0.2x, 0.4x, 0.6x, and 0.8x the previously established acute LD50. A 2-week and 4-week exposure were also performed for each agent at doses less than the 13-week MTD to verify lack of toxicity. Animals dosed daily for 13 weeks with 0.4x LD50 of GB or GD or with 0.2x LD50 of VX did not display signs of acute cholinergic toxicity. In animals dosed daily for either 2- or 4-weeks, the MTDs were 0.4x the acute LD50 for all three CWNA. There were no differences among these groups and their respective vehicle controls for weight gains, body temperature, complete blood cell counts, blood chemistries, nor by histopathology....
CNS innervation of vagal preganglionic neurons controlling peripheral airways : A transneuronal labeling study using pseudorabies virus

Abstract The CNS cell groups that project to vagal preganglionic neurons which innervate the most distal part of the airways were identified by the viral retrograde transneuronal labeling method. Pseudorabies virus (PRV) was injected into the lung parenchyma of C8 spinal rats and after 5 days survival, brain tissue sections from these animals were processed for immunohistochemical detection of PRV. Retrogradely labeled parasympathetic preganglionic cells (first-order neurons) were seen mainly in the ventral medulla oblongata: the compact portion of the nucleus ambiguus and the area ventral to it. Occasionally, a few labeled cells were seen within the rostral part of the dorsal vagal nucleus. This labeling pattern correlated well with the retrograde cell body labeling seen following cholera toxin β-subunit (CT-b) injections in the lung parenchyma. PRV transneuronally labeled neurons (second-order and/or presumed third-order neurons) were found throughout the CNS with the characteristic labeling in the brainstem. Labeled neurons were identified along and just beneath the ventral medullary surface, and in nearby areas: the parapyramidal, retrotrapezoid, gigantocellular and lateral paragigantocellular reticular nuclei, as well as the caudal raphe nuclei (raphe pallidus, obscurus, and magnus). Several nucleus tractus solitarius (nTS) regions contained labeled cells including the commissural, medial, and ventrolateral nTS subnuclei. The A5 cell group and a small number of locus coeruleus neurons were also labeled. PRV-infected neurons were present in the Kolliker–Fuse and Barrington's nuclei. In the mesencephalon, neurons within the ventral periventricular gray matter were labeled. Labeling was present in the dorsal, lateral and paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei, and within the amygdaloid complex. In summary, the parasympathetic preganglionic neurons that innervate the peripheral airways are controlled by networks of lower brainstem and suprapontine neurons that lie in the same regions known to be involved in central regulation of autonomic functions.
Coherence control for qubits

We study the influence of an external driving field on the coherence properties of a qubit subject to bit-flip noise. In the presence of driving, two paradigmatic cases are considered: (i) a field that results for a suitable choice of the parameters in so-called coherent destruction of tunneling and (ii) one that commutes with the static qubit Hamiltonian. In each case, we give for high-frequency driving a lower bound for the coherence time. This reveals the conditions under which the external fields can be used for coherence stabilization.
The Role of Surgical Champions in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program – A National Survey

Background The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) empowers surgeons and medical centers to reliably collect, analyze, and act on clinically collected outcomes data. How individual ACS NSQIP leaders designated as Surgeon Champions (SC) utilize the ACS NSQIP at the hospital level and the obstacles they encounter are not well studied. Materials and Methods All SC representing the 236 hospitals participating in the ACS NSIQP were invited to complete a survey designed to assess the role of the SC, data use, continuous quality improvement (CQI) efforts, CQI culture, and financial implications. Results We received responses from 109 (46.2%) SC. The majority (72.5%) of SC were not compensated for their CQI efforts. Factors associated with demonstrable CQI efforts included longer duration of participation in the program, frequent meetings with clinical reviewers, frequent presentation of data to administration, compensation for Surgical Champion efforts and providing individual surgeons with feedback (all P Conclusions Active use of ACS NSQIP data provide SC with demonstrable CQI by regularly reviewing data, having frequent interaction with clinical reviewers, and frequently sharing data with hospital administration and colleagues. SC thus play a key role in successful quality improvement at the hospital level.
In situ X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption studies of high-rate lithium-ion batteries

Abstract A combination of in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) was used to study a two-electrode lithium-ion cell made from electrodes from a high-rate lithium-ion battery. The cathode was LiNi 0.85 Co 0.15 O 2 . Both the XRD and the XAS were done in the transmission mode. XAS was done while the cell was charged at the C/2 rate to 4.5 V. The near edge Co and Ni spectra (XANES) indicated that all of the charge compensation occurred on the Ni and the Co did not change its oxidation state during charge. The Co EXAFS indicated that the Co is randomly distributed in the NiO 2 layers. XRD data were collected on a beam line with a position sensitive detector. Complete high quality XRD patterns could be obtained in as little as 3 min. The patterns covered the range between the (0 0 3) and the (1 1 3) reflections of the cathode material and included the (0 0 2) reflection from graphite in the anode. Data were collected while the cell was cycled at rates between the C/4 and 2C rate. In all cases, at the beginning of charge, there is an initial expansion along the c -axis and a concomitant contraction along the a - and b -axes. Towards the end of charge there is a contraction along the c -axis and a slight expansion along the a - and b -axes. After high rate charges there are relaxation processes that last for a few minutes after termination of charge. The results indicate with proper choice of the active materials and electrode design lithium-ion cells can be charged and discharged at high rate with high utilization of the active material.
Shubnikov-de Haas and high-field magnetoresistance effects in the A15 compound Nb3Sb

High-field magnetoresistance and Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) effects were studied in the A15 compound Nb3Sb in fields up to 215 kG. A change in the field dependence of the magnetoresistance for certain field directions above about 150 kG appears to signal the onset of magnetic breakdown. Five sets of SdH frequencies were observed, four of them closely corresponding to de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) frequencies observed by Arko et al. The fifth frequency had an extremely large amplitude, about 20% of the backgroud magnetoresistance, and it is suggested that this also is due to magnetic breakdown. The results are compared with the ab initio band calculations of van Kessel et al., which can explain many of the observed features of the dHvA and SdH frequencies. © 1980 Plenum Publishing Corporation.
Numerical study on shape optimization of groove micromixers

The performance of a homogeneous T-mixer can be enhanced significantly by the stimulation of secondary/transverse flows in the microchannel. The groove-based micromixers generate helical flows within the microchannel to augment the mixing performance. These micromixers are extensively studied with respect to planar geometric parameters such as groove width, groove spacing, channel height, etc. The effect of groove shape on mixing performance has not been systematically studied. Previous studies have focused on two or three different predefined groove shapes, typically involving slanted grooves, asymmetric herringbone grooves, and their variations. In this computational study, we analyze the effect of groove shape on micromixing performance and search for the optimal groove shape for a pressure-driven flow across the microchannel. The groove shape is parametrically represented by Bezier curves which could take any shape within a constrained plane. The control points of the Bezier curve are chosen as optimization parameters to identify the optimal groove shape which maximizes the mixing for given operating conditions. The optimization is carried out for pressure-driven flow with and without staggered arrangement of grooves. The resulting single groove optimal design improves the mixing efficiency from 0.18 for T-mixer to 0.85 for the same operating conditions (Re ~0.42, Pe ~4,200). Unlike previous studies, axial mixing index profiles are presented for different micromixers which clearly distinguish the effect of flow field on the mixing performance. Various parametric studies are carried out to compare the optimal groove structure with other common groove type (staggered, herringbone, etc.) micromixers for a range of Pe between 400 and 6,200. The improved mixing performance in optimal designs is due to a continuously growing finger-like structure of the interface which enhances the overall mass transfer.
Phase transitions in softly broken N = 2 SQCD at non-zero θ angle

Abstract We investigate the behavior of softly broken N = 2 SQCD at non-zero bare theta angle θ 0 , using superfield spurions to implement the SUSY breaking. We find a first-order phase transition as θ 0 is varied from zero to 2 π , in agreement with a prediction of 't Hooft. The low-energy theta angle θ eff , which determines the effective charges of dyonic excitations, has a complicated dependence on θ 0 and the breaking parameters.
Performance of Real Estate Portfolios

Actual cash flows from commercial properties over 1977–2004 underlie this simulation of the performance of real estate portfolios. The methodology relaxes implicit rebalancing and mark-to-market assumptions in time series analysis and uses the distribution of the internal rate of return to compare commercial property investment to portfolios of stocks and bonds over the same period. This approach allows consideration of the impact of the timing of capital flows on the IRR for real estate portfolios and provides insight into the benefits of diversification by property sector versus location. Cross-sectional variation in IRRs helps indicate the number of properties necessary to reduce the risk of achieving the IRR benchmark for properties in the NCREIF Property Index.
Graywacke matrix minerals: hydrothermal reactions with columbia river sediments.

Experiments with sands chemically similar to graywackes produced "matrix" minerals at 250°C and a water pressure of 1 kilobar. Starting materials were moderately well sorted sands containing abundant volcanic rock fragments and no detectable clay minerals. The results support the concept that graywacke matrix may form diagenetically by hydration and recrystallization of unstable clasts. Matrix need not be a recrystallized detrial fine fraction. Texture, therefore, is not a reliable criterion for sandstone classification. For graywackes, chemical composition may be more significant.
Extinguishing the Sparks

The mechanical contraction of cardiac muscle is triggered by membrane depolarization through a process known as calcium-induced calcium-release (CICR). The structural basis of CICR is exquisite in its detail. At thousands of distinct locations throughout the myocyte, the junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum (JSR) membrane approaches to within ∼12 nm of the t-tubule membrane to form structures known as dyads. Dyads consist of a handful of L-type calcium (Ca2+) channels (LCCs) in the t-tubule membrane, a larger number of ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+-gated Ca2+-release channels (RyR2s) in the closely apposed JSR membrane, regulatory proteins that modify LCC and RyR2 function, and the fluid volume that separates them. Membrane depolarization leads to openings of LCCs, flux of Ca2+ into the dyadic space, Ca2+ binding to and opening of RyR2s, and release of Ca2+ from the JSR into the dyadic space. This Ca2+ then diffuses out of the dyad and binds to the mechanical machinery of the cell. The sum of these Ca2+ release events drives contraction of heart muscle.
When is enough enough? The dilemma of valve replacement in a recidivist intravenous drug user.

s we continue to make advances in medicine that Apromise to treat more people more effectively, we face rising pressures of cost containment and the imperative to allocate resources judiciously. Accordingly, physicians are increasingly confronted with the challenge of where to draw the line at providing care. At first glance this idea may seem akin to Hippocratic blasphemy; as physicians we are never supposed to stop caring for our patients. Nonetheless, it may not always be medically or ethically appropriate to provide ever-escalating care to patients whose illnesses continue to ravage them despite our best efforts, especially when self-destructive behavior lies at the root of their disease. Mr X was a longstanding intravenous heroin user who initially presented with bacterial endocarditis requiring mitral valve replacement. Six months later, he re-presented with severe sepsis and prosthetic fungal endocarditis leading to severe mitral stenosis. Another valve replacement was deemed necessary to achieve cure given the level of valve destruction and persistent positive blood cultures despite appropriate antifungal therapy. However, three consultations with three different cardiothoracic surgeons yielded three nearly identical assessments: Mr X’s recidivism was a contraindication to repeat valve replacement. In case there had been any doubt as to whether he was still using, a nurse found used needles hidden in his clothes. Despite his worsening mental status in the setting of multiple embolic strokes, Mr X expressed that he did not want to die. The ethics committee was consulted and found no medical contraindication to surgery, and in the absence of guidelines they deferred to a senior cardiothoracic surgeon. Although he reinforced the precedent that recurrent prosthetic endocarditis associated with continued active intravenous drug use sufficiently justified his colleagues’ declining to offer a reoperation, he agreed to perform one. After a predictably complicated postoperative course, Mr X was discharged to a physical rehabilitation facility. It was not clear whether there was an effort to enroll him in substance rehabilitation as well. Shortly thereafter, his family brought him to the emergency department after finding him confused and disheveled at home. He had reportedly signed out of
Targeting melanocortin receptors for the treatment of obesity

Neuroanatomical, genetic and pharmacological studies provide undisputable evidence for the role of the melanocortin system in the regulation of feeding behavior and body weight. In this review, we present the underlying biological rational for the development of melanocortin-based therapeutics to treat obesity and discuss four potential strategic approaches. Of these, non-peptide MC4R selective agonists show the most promise. High-affinity compounds with drug-like properties are efficacious in animal models and proof-of-concept data from clinical trials are anticipated.
Stochastic natural language generation for spoken dialog systems

We describe a corpus-based approach to natural language generation (NLG). The approach has been implemented as a component of a spoken dialog system and a series of evaluations were carried out. Our system uses n-gram language models, which have been found useful in other language technology applications, in a generative mode. It is not yet clear whether the simple n-grams can adequately model human language generation in general, but we show that we can successfully apply this ubiquitous modeling technique to the task of natural language generation for spoken dialog systems. In this paper, we discuss applying corpus-based stochastic language generation at two levels: content selection and sentence planning/realization. At the content selection level, output utterances are modeled by bigrams, and the appropriate attributes are chosen using bigram statistics. In sentence planning and realization, corpus utterances are modeled by n-grams of varying length, and new utterances are generated stochastically. Through this work, we show that a simple statistical model alone can generate appropriate language for a spoken dialog system. The results describe a promising avenue for using a statistical approach in future NLG systems.
Primitive neuroectodermal tumor presenting as a neck mass

Summary Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) comprise a family of the small blue round cell tumors. These neural crest origin tumors affect central nervous system (CNS) or peripheral tissues and are characterized by the set of unique chromosomal translocations and MIC-2 antigenic expression. PNET of the CNS are the most common malignant nervous system tumors of childhood. Reports of the peripheral PNET, which can present in the head and neck region are extremely limited. We present a case of the pediatric peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor manifested as an acute onset of neck swelling and ascending flaccid paralysis after routine first year immunizations.
Earth Movers Distance-Based Simultaneous Comparison of Hyperspectral Endmembers and Proportions

A new approach for simultaneously comparing sets of hyperspectral endmembers and proportion values using the Earth Movers Distance (EMD) is presented. First, the EMD is defined and calculated per-pixel based on the proportion values and corresponding endmembers. Next, these per-pixel EMD distances are aggregated to obtain a final measure of dissimilarity. In particular, the proposed EMD approach can be used to simultaneously compare endmembers and proportion values with differing numbers of endmembers. The proposed method has a number of uses, including: computing the similarity between two sets of endmembers and proportion values that were obtained using any algorithm or underlying mixing model, clustering sets of hyperspectral endmember and proportion values, or evaluating spectral unmixing results by comparing estimated values to ground truth information. Experiments on both simulated and measured hyperspectral data sets demonstrate that the EMD is effective at simultaneous endmember and proportion comparison.
Does storage technology affect adoption of improved maize varieties in Africa? Insights from Malawi’s input subsidy program

Abstract To date there is limited knowledge of how having access to post-harvest storage technology affects a smallholder African farmer’s decision to adopt higher-yielding improved maize varieties. This is a key issue because higher yielding varieties are known to be more susceptible to storage pests than lower-yielding traditional varieties. We address this question using panel data from Malawi, and incorporating panel estimation techniques to deal with unobserved heterogeneity. Our results indicate that acquiring chemical storage protectants after the previous harvest is associated with a statistically significant and modest positive impact on the probability of adopting improved maize, total area planted to improved maize varieties, and share of area planted to improved maize varieties in the next planting season. We also find that the storage chemical subsidy is associated with significant crowding out of commercial storage chemical purchases, as farmers who acquire subsidized chemicals are more than 50 percentage points less likely to purchase commercial chemicals on average. These findings have implications for maize adoption and input subsidy policies, and they indicate that researchers, extension staff, and policy makers should consider post-harvest issue when promoting adoption of improved varieties.
Structural characterization and magnetic ordering in (La1−xPrx)Ba2Cu2NbO8

Abstract The perovskite-based system (La1−xPrx)Ba2Cu2NbO8 has been synthesized for 0≤x≤1 and characterized using x-ray diffraction and magnetization measurements. Lattice parameters determined by Rietveld refinement are given as a function of composition. Antiferromagnetic ordering of the Pr sublattice is observed for x≥0.5, the Neel temperature (TN) is observed to increase linearly with Pr content, and the previously reported TN of 12 K for PrBa2Cu2NbO8 is confirmed. These results are interpreted in terms of established Pr magnetism in PrBa2Cu2NbO8 and similar magnetism in other well-documented high-Tc cuprate structures.
Rapid quantitative GLC analysis of digoxin.

A quantitative method of assaying digoxin by GLC was developed. The pure drug in both tablet and powder form can be assayed rapidly and accurately by this procedure.
Knowing the boundaries: extending the differential adhesion hypothesis in embryonic cell sorting.

Successful embryogenesis requires proper sorting and compartmentalization of different cell types. Mechanical interactions between cells help govern these processes. In the past, physics-based theories have guided in vitro studies of cell sorting and tissue surface tension. Recent experiments have challenged this approach, indicating that adhesive molecules also act as signaling molecules that initiate local reorganization of actomyosin and demonstrating that cells at the boundary of a colony of initially identical cells become “mechanically polarized.” Extending physical models to account for mechanical polarization helps solve a long-standing paradox about magnitudes of tissue surface tensions and potentially explains discrepancies between recent in vivo and in vitro cell-sorting experiments. New experiments are needed to further explore the connection between mechanical polarization and tissue boundary formation in vivo.
Investigating the Relationship Between Board Characteristics and Board Information

While corporate governance research has had some success tying boards' demographic characteristics to relatively distant outcomes such as CEO pay and succession, numerous studies have indicated that a major weakness of this research is that it has largely ignored the intervening behaviours associated with board vigilance. This study begins to answer this call by examining the relationship between boards' demographic characteristics and boards' information-gathering behaviour. Using primary and secondary data from 149 firms, this study finds that an increase in the proportion of outside directors on a board is associated with an increase in boards' information quality and proactive information-seeking. In addition, an increase in outside director tenure is associated with boards exchanging information more frequently. Consistent with agency theory predictions, these findings suggest that vigilant boards are likely to take actions aimed at reducing the level of information asymmetry between them and their CEOs.
Pediatric Critical Care

Care of the ill and injured child requires knowledge of unique pediatric anatomic and physiologic differences. Subtleties in presentation and pathophysiologic differences impact management. This article discusses pediatric resuscitation, the presentation and management of common childhood illness, pediatric trauma, and common procedures required in the critically ill child.
Effect of exit shape of compaction mold on coal log quality

The quality of coal logs formed by compacting a coal mixture in a cylindrical mold or die was found to depend to a large extent on the exit shape of the mold (die). An exit with a sharp edge causes cracks or microcracks in the logs due to stress concentration at the edge generated by elastic expansion of the part of the coal log exiting the mold (die). Such stress concentration and damage to coal logs can be greatly reduced by using either a tapered exit (i.e. an exit of gradual expansion) or a round-edged exit of proper dimensions. Tests conducted in this study suggest that a round-edged exit of proper dimensions is the most effective in reducing such damage and in preserving the quality and integrity of the coal logs produced. The log quality was assessed by visual observation, by measuring the density and tensile strength of the logs, by immersing the coal logs in water under high pressure, and by circulating the logs in a pipe flow to determine their abrasion resistance. The study is expected to have implications for the compaction and high-pressure extrusion of other brittle elastic materials, not just coal.