cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Possibility of n-TYPE and p-TYPE Carrier Coupling in the Excitonic Enhancement Model of Superconducting Mechanism

We discuss the possibility of both n-type and p-type carrier coupling in the excitonic enhancement model (EEM) for high temperature superconductivity. It is argued that p-type quasi-particles will generally lead to a higher Tc than the n-type. The differences between EEM model and other exciton-related models are illuminated by the corresponding Feynman diagrams for the carrier coupling.
Angular accuracy of a phased array radar

One type of phased-array radar of current interest employs an array of separate receiving elements, each followed by an individual amplifier. These individual signals are combined coherently to form one or more receiving beams for searching, tracking, or performing both functions simultaneously. This paper presents an approach to the theory of angle measurement with a phased array of this type. In the one-dimensional problem considered here, the receiving antenna consists of a linear array of individual antenna-amplifier elements. The receiver-noise-limited case is considered, in which accuracy is limited by the additive normally distributed noise present in each channel. An expression is derived for the limiting accuracy of angular measurement when a single set of samples is available. This set of samples is obtained simultaneously, one sample from each channel. Next, two methods of implementing the angular measurements are discussed. These are amplitude comparison monopulse and a coherent or phase comparison technique. For large signal-to-noise ratios and for either a square law or a linear envelope detector, the accuracy of amplitude comparison monopulse approaches the theoretical limit. The same accuracy can be achieved with the coherent technique by proper weighting of the individual signals.
The Value Spread: A Puzzle

The standard dynamic investment model fails to explain the value spread, which is the difference in the market equity-to-capital ratio between extreme book-to-market deciles. Even when the model manages to fit the valuation ratios across some testing assets, the implied expected return errors are large. In contrast to the model’s superior in-sample fit of expected returns, recursive estimation reveals its poor out-of-sample performance. Time series instability and industry heterogeneity of the model parameters are the likely culprits. In all, we conclude that the dynamic investment framework is not yet useful for valuation and expected return estimation in practice.
Vapor—liquid phase equilibria for the isoprene—n-pentane binary system from 300 to 330 K

Abstract This article presents new, total pressure data for the isoprene—n-pentane binary system over the temperature range 300–330 K. The experimental design procedure of Howat and Swift was used as a guide for the selection of data points and for the analysis of the impact of random and potential systematic errors on the data. Regression analysis procedures used are those presented by Shanker et al. Quatitative data are presented which show the effect of mercury—hydrocarbon interaction on the measured vapor pressures of C5 hydrocarbons. The new data surpass the precision of any previously published literature data for this binary pair. The uncertainty in the measurements are 0.02 K, 0.08 kPa and 0.002 mole fraction. The predicted azeotrope composition is 0.743±0.003 mole fraction isoprene with no significant change with temperature.
Two Muslim Communities: Two Disparate Ways of Islamizing Public Spaces

This article clarifies what Hayden has termed “space as a cultural product.” The author discusses the Islamizing of public spaces in two urban Muslim communities. The Salafiyya, a proto-Islamic movement (Community A), is at the center of a heated debate over the control for the soul of the community—the mosque. Normally this would not be a problem, but the Salafiyya heavily rely on the past in interpretating religious texts. In contrast, “Community B” demonstrates how competing visions of public space and religious practice can coexist in urban America. Their goal is to invest the neighborhood with a bona fide religious virtue through activism and social change. More broadly, the worldview of these two communities forces an examination of two disparate ways of Islamizing public spaces. Islamizing exaggerates the problems that both A and B must confront and the kinds of uncertainties that accompany cultural identity, religious legitimacy, and valorization of the word community.
In defense of wireless carrier sense

Carrier sense is often used to regulate concurrency in wireless medium access control (MAC) protocols, balancing interference protection and spatial reuse. Carrier sense is known to be imperfect, and many improved techniques have been proposed. Is the search for a replacement justified? This paper presents a theoretical model for average case two-sender carrier sense based on radio propagation theory and Shannon capacity. Analysis using the model shows that carrier sense performance is surprisingly close to optimal for radios with adaptive bitrate. The model suggests that hidden and exposed terminals usually cause modest reductions in throughput rather than dramatic decreases. Finally, it is possible to choose a fixed sense threshold which performs well across a wide range of scenarios, in large part due to the role of the noise floor. Experimental results from an indoor 802.11 testbed support these claims.
Phospholipase C-β3 and -β1 Form Homodimers, but Not Heterodimers, through Catalytic and Carboxyl-Terminal Domains

Phospholipase C-β (PLC-β) isoenzymes are key effectors in G protein-coupled signaling pathways. Prior research suggests that some isoforms of PLC-β may exist and function as dimers. Using coimmunoprecipitation assays of differentially tagged PLC-β constructs and size-exclusion chromatography of native PLC-β, we observed homodimerization of PLC-β3 and PLC-β1 isoenzymes but failed to detect heterodimerization of these isoenzymes. Size-exclusion chromatography data suggest that PLC-β3 and PLC-β1 form higher affinity homodimers than PLC-β2. Evidence supportive of limited PLC-β monomer-homodimer equilibrium appears at ≤100 nM. Further assessment of homodimerization status by coimmunoprecipitation assays with differentially tagged PLC-β3 fragments demonstrated that at least two subdomains of PLC-β3 are involved in dimer formation, one in the catalytic X and Y domains and the other in the G protein-regulated carboxyl-terminal domain. In addition, we provide evidence consistent with the existence of PLC-β homodimers in a whole-cell context, using fluorescent protein-tagged constructs and microscopic fluorescence resonance energy transfer assays.
Contrast enhancement for early cancer imaging by Gd-nanoparticles and active feedback MRI

Aim Early detection of high-grade malignancy using enhanced MRI techniques significantly increases not only the treatment options available, but also the patients’ survival rate. For this purpose, we have developed a new method, termed “Active-Feedback MRI”. An active feedback electronic device was homebuilt to implement active-feedback pulse sequences to generate avalanching spin amplification, which enhances the weak field originated from T1 contrast agents such as Gd-nanoparticles that target and label the cancer cells.
The effect of pH on sucrose metabolism in vitro of sucrose- and saline-exposed experimental dental plaques in man.

Abstract Sucrose metabolism of sucrose-exposed (test) and saline-exposed (control) experimental dental plaques on removable enamel surfaces worn on oral appliances were compared in reaction mixtures of different hydrogen-ion concentrations. At pH 7.2, test plaques formed proportionally more lactic acid than controls, while at pH 6.0 and to a greater extent at pH 5.0 the proportional and quantitative production of lactic acid was higher in test plaques.
Critical layer singularities and complex eigenvalues in some differential equations of mathematical physics

Abstract Singular differential equations are a common feature of many problems in mathematical physics. It is often the case that systems with a similar mathematical structure can arise in many different contexts. In this article, mathematically related problems are drawn from areas as diverse as hydrodynamics (with applications to oceanography and meteorology), magnetohydrodynamics and plasma physics (with applications to astrophysics and geophysics, especially solar physics, ionospheric and magnetospheric physics; also nuclear fusion devices), acoustics, electromagnetics, quantum mechanics and nuclear physics. One major unifying feature common to the problems discussed here is the existence of complex eigenvalues, often associated with so-called “classical self-adjoint” equations. No real contradiction is involved here, but the resulting wave functions are often referred to variously as “radioactive states”, “damped resonances”, “leaky waves”, “non-modal solutions” , “singular modes”, “virtual modes”, or “improper eigenfunctions”. In the hydrodynamics of shear flows, such modes are associated with the existence of “critical layers” at which a singularity occurs in the governing (ordinary) differential equation. Similar, but usually more general singular layers are known to occur in equations arising in many of the above-mentioned contexts, and it is the purpose of this review to identify the nature of these singular layers and complex eigenvalues, and the relationships that exist between the different context in which they are found, and in particular to emphasize the occurrence of and interpretation of complex eigenvalues in quantum mechanics. Thus the “exponential catastrophe” is a clearly identified and recurring theme throughout this article by virtue of the similarities that exist between the classical and quantum system discussed here. The examples quoted from quantum mechanics are simple in form, and found in many standard texts, but the virtue of including them here is twofold: the results are easy to understand and relate to the more complicated “classical” systems, and they provide a valuable didactic and pedagogic tool for those readers whose background in quantum mechanics is limited. It is also hoped that this article will be of interest to readers who wish to become more acquainted with some aspects of hydrodynamics and magnetohydrodynamics.
Public opinion on policy issues in genetics and genomics.

The aim of this study was to examine public opinion on major policy issues in genetics and genomics, including federal spending on genetic research, the perceived significance of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and whether clinicians should be involved in direct-to-consumer genetic testing. This was a survey with a nationally representative sample of 2,100 American adults administered by the nonpartisan research firm YouGov in January 2011. The majority of the respondents (57%) believe that the federal government should spend more on genetic research, 82% rank the 2008 antidiscrimination law as “important,” and 65% say that clinicians should be involved in explaining genetic test results (contra the practice of some direct-to-consumer companies). On all three policy issues, gender and political party affiliation were statistically significantly associated with respondents’ views, whereas race/ethnicity and education were less consistently associated with policy opinions. Americans demonstrate widespread support for scientific research on genetics, laws protecting citizens against genetic discrimination, and the need to involve medical professionals in the process of genetic testing. These results are useful for scientists designing research projects, clinicians interacting with patients, professional organizations lobbying for resources, federal agencies setting budget priorities, and legislators designing regulation. Genet Med 16 6, 491–494.
Diurnal Changes in Pineal Melatonin Content in Four Rodent Species: Relationship to Photoperiodism

Daily changes in pineal melatonin content were examined in four rodent species (rat, Syrian hamster, Turkish hamster, and Siberian hamster). All species had elevated pineal melatonin levels during the dark period of a lighting cycle with a long photoperiod of 16 h of light per day, and no obvious differences were observed between photoperiodic and nonphotoperiodic species. Pineal melatonin levels of Siberian hamsters maintained in either a short (10 h of light per day) or a long photoperiod were elevated for most of the dark period, so the duration of elevated levels of pineal melatonin was longer in a short photoperiod than in a long photoperiod. Treatment of pinealectomized Syrian hamsters with melatonin during the time of the night when pineal melatonin content would be elevated induced gonadal regression, while pinealectomized rats failed to respond to exogenous melatonin.
Progesterone Regulates FGF10, MET, IGFBP1, and IGFBP3 in the Endometrium of the Ovine Uterus

Progesterone (P4) is unequivocally required to maintain a uterine environment conducive to pregnancy. This study investigated the effects of P4 treatment on expression of selected growth factors (fibroblast growth factor 7 [FGF7], FGF10, hepatocyte growth factor [HGF], and insulin-like growth factors [IGF1 and IGF2]), their receptors (MET, FGFR2(IIIB), and IGF1R), and IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) in the ovine uterus. Ewes received daily injections of corn oil vehicle (CO) or 25 mg of P4 in vehicle from 36 h after mating (Day 0) to hysterectomy on Day 9 or Day 12. Another group received P4 to Day 8 and 75 mg of mifepristone (RU486, a P4 receptor antagonist) from Day 8 through Day 12. Endometrial FGF10 mRNA levels increased between Day 9 and Day 12 and in response to P4 on Day 9 in CO-treated ewes, which had larger blastocysts, and were substantially reduced in P4+RU486-treated ewes, which had no blastocysts on Day 12. Endometrial FGF7 or HGF mRNA levels were not affected by day or reduced by RU486 treatment, but MET mRNA levels were higher in P4-treated ewes on Day 9 and Day 12. Levels of IGF1, IGF2, and IGF1R mRNA in the endometria were not affected by early P4 treatment. Although stromal IGFBPs were unaffected by P4, levels of IGFBP1 and IGFBP3 mRNA in uterine luminal epithelia were increased substantially between Day 9 and Day 12 of pregnancy in CO-treated ewes and on Day 9 in early P4-treated ewes. Therefore, FGF10, MET, IGFBP1, and IGFBP3 are P4-regulated factors within the endometrium of the ovine uterus that have potential effects on endometrial function and peri-implantation blastocyst growth and development.
Radio-tracking of female Tree Swallows prior to egg-laying

Abstract We radio-tracked eight female Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) prior to egg-laying in 2000 and 2001. Six females made movements >2 km to evening roosting sites. Females often roosted farther away than the nearest available roost site, they used different roosts on different nights, and during the day they foraged up to 10 km from their nest site. Thus, female swallows move over a large area (103 km2) prior to egg-laying. These widespread movements appear to be unusual among swallows, and they may allow females to survey a large number of extra-pair males.
Needlestick Injuries in Livestock Workers and Prevention Programs

Veterinary medicine and agriculture have historically lacked needlestick injury (NSI) research, education, and mitigation due to the absence of zoonotic blood-borne pathogens and the “perceived” be...
Representing Defendants on Charges of Economic Crime: Unethical When Done for a Fee

As prosecutors have increasingly invoked asset forfeiture laws in their war against crime, scholars have harshly criticized the use of forfeiture laws to seize attorneys' fees. In cases in which attorneys' fees are seized, prosecutors claim that defendants are paying their lawyers with the proceeds of criminal activity. For example, drug dealers might use the profits from cocaine or heroin sales to finance their defense, or embezzlers might use the skimmed funds to defray their legal expenses. According to many commentators, attorneys' fee forfeitures raise serious constitutional problems. If payments to attorneys may be seized by the government, criminal defendants will be greatly constrained in their ability to retain a lawyer, thereby compromising the defendants' Sixth Amendment right to counsel and undermining the fairness of the criminal justice system.The real issue at stake is not whether prosecutors can seize attorneys' fees, but whether attorneys should be able to accept the fees in the first place. This misplaced focus reflects the fact that the attorneys' fee issue has been viewed primarily through the lens of defendants' Sixth Amendment right to counsel, without adequate consideration of lawyers' ethical obligations to decline their clients' ill-gotten gains. By taking into account lawyers' professional responsibilities as well as defendant's constitutional rights, one can come to a more complete understanding of the attorneys' fee issue. The criminal justice system can shape its ethical and legal rules not only in terms of the relationship between individual defendants and the state, but also in terms of the relationship between individual defendants and their lawyers.When a lawyer's moral duties are adequately considered, it becomes clear that it is almost always unethical for attorneys to accept fees for defending individuals charged with economic crimes. Such individuals should have to rely on court-appointed counsel (or pro se representation) for their legal defense. This conclusion rests on the important moral ground that lawyers may not traffic in the ill-gotten gains of their clients, which means that lawyers cannot accept payment when there is good reason to think that at least some of the payment comes from illicit funds.
Corneal-Based Surgical Presbyopic Therapies and Their Application in Pseudophakic Patients.

Purpose. The purpose of this review is to provide a summary of laser refractive surgery and corneal inlay approaches to treat presbyopia in patients after cataract surgery. Summary. The presbyopic population is growing rapidly along with increasing demands for spectacle independence. This review will focus on the corneal-based surgical options to address presbyopia including various types of corneal intrastromal inlays and laser ablation techniques to generate either a multifocal cornea (“PresbyLASIK”) or monovision. The natural history of presbyopia develops prior to cataracts, and these presbyopic surgeries have been largely studied in phakic patients. Nevertheless, pseudophakic patients may also undergo these presbyopia-compensating procedures for enhanced quality of life. This review examines the published reports that apply these technologies to patients after cataract surgery and discusses unique considerations for this population.
Plasma fibrin-stabilizing factor: acquired deficiency in various disorders.

A carefully standardized assay of plasma fibrin-stabilizing factor (Factor XIII, fibrinase) activity based on Lorand’s clot solubility test was applied to 55 control subjects and 306 patients. Diminution of fibrin-stabilizing factor activity was denoted by complete dissolution of the clot in 1 % monochloracetic acid at 0.1 ml. of plasma in the test system. Such diminution, to the extent of 25% of normal, was found in 91 patients (29%), with the greatest incidence in cases of neoplasm metastatic to the liver (40%), myelo- and lymphoproliferative disorders (38 %), cirrhosis of the liver (30 %), and uremia (30 %). A reduced fibrin-stabilizing factor level was prevalent in patients with more severe or advanced illness and was, in a high percentage of the cases, associated with increased fibrinolysis, reduced fibrinogen, prolonged prothrombin time, and deficiency in platelets. Therefore, hypofibrinasemia (inadequate amount of fibrinase) appeared to be a nonspecific index of serious organic disease. The degree of deficiency encountered was not regarded as causing or significantly contributing to a hemorrhagic diathesis.
Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. A study of 70 cases.

Seventy cases of anaplastic thyroid carcinomas studied at the Universities of Florence (Italy) and Minnesota are presented. Three morphologic patterns were seen: spindle, giant cell, and squamoid, sometimes in combination. Ultrastructurally, evidence of epithelial differentiation was seen in most but not all cases studied. Immunohistochemically, a stain for cytokeratin using a monoclonal antibody was found the most useful adjunct to diagnosis. Unexpected positivity for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was found in several squamoid tumors. The alleged frequent positivity of this tumor type for thyroglobulin and calcitonin was not confirmed. A third of the tumors were associated with a better differentiated component, of which, presumably, they represented a dedifferentiation. The extremely aggressive behavior of anaplastic thyroid carcinomas was confirmed amply in this series: all of the patients in whom follow-up information was available died of their tumor. Small cell tumors should not be included into the anaplastic category, since they invariably belong to other groups, i.e., malignant lymphoma, medullary carcinoma, and poorly differentiated ("insular") carcinoma.
Free radicals from photolysis of (NTO) 5-nitro-2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazol-3-one studied by EPR spin trapping

NTO (5-nitro-2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazol-3-one) is shown to form a photochemical free radical in alkaline aqueous solution containing nitromethane (CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2}). The NTO free radical can also be produced by chemical reduction of NTO with hydroquinone in alkaline solution. Details of radical formation and assignment of the NTO radical to a nitro anion radical, having the NTO ring intact, are presented.
Urban Restructuring: An Analysis of Social and Spatial Change in Los Angeles

I should be very much pleased if you could find me something good (meaty) on economic conditions in California.… California is very important for me because nowhere else has the upheaval most shamelessly caused by capitalist centralization taken place with such speed.
Effects of Electronics, Aromaticity, and Solvent Polarity on the Rate of Azaquinone–Methide-Mediated Depolymerization of Aromatic Carbamate Oligomers

This paper uses physical-organic studies on well-defined oligomers to establish design principles for creating aromatic poly(carbamates) that depolymerize from head-to-tail in low dielectric constant environments when exposed to specific applied signals. We show that either increasing electron density or decreasing the aromaticity of aromatic repeating units in poly(carbamates) increase the overall depolymerization rate. For example, a methoxybenzene-based repeating unit provides depolymerization rates that are 143× faster than oligomers that contain a benzene-based repeating unit. Furthermore, the rate of depolymerization in the methoxybenzene-based system is tolerant to low dielectric environments, whereas the benzene-based oligomers are not.
Dual Pathways for TiO2 Sensitization by Na2[Fe(bpy)(CN)4]

The first example of a compound designed to sensitize semiconductors to visible light by electron transfer from both intervalent and excited states is Na2[Fe(bpy)(CN)4], where bpy is 2,2‘-bipyridine. The charge-transfer pathways are schematically depicted below. Photoelectrochemical and spectroscopic characterization are contrasted with that of Fe(CN)64-.
Analytical Investigation of Co -Rotating Vortex Filaments with Experimental Verification

The interactions between two co -rota ting vortex filaments are investigated analytically. The Biot -Savart law is used to develop the equations of motion of the filaments, consistent with Crow's formulation. It is demonstrated that the mutual induction between the vortices leads to unstable motion of the filaments over a wide range of frequencies. Furthermore, the oscillatory motion of the filaments is proven to have a preferred direction. This behavior is demonstrated through comparison with experimental results obtained in a water tunnel. Nomenclature Normal Variables : b blade separation distance v b vortex separation distance c damping coefficient d integration cutoff distance L d v increment of length along the vortex z y x e e e v
Study on the Measurement Method of the Flue Gas Flow of Coal-fired Power Plant

The flue gas flow rate in power plant is an important parameter in environment measurements.Because of the characteristic of turbulence flow in the duct,the measurement precise of flue gas flow can not meet the requirements of criterion.Based on the test result of flue gas velocity field and the analysis of numerical simulation of flow field in the 330 MW coal-fired unit,a feasible and practical measurement method of flue gas flow is put forward in this article.
FLUID FLOW AND HEAT TRANSFER ANALYSIS IN AR-BITRARY THREE-DIMENSIONAL GEOMETRIES VIABOUNDARY FITTED COORDINATE TRANSFORMATION

The numerical solution of the Navier-Stokes and energy equations must be representedaccurately in the finite-difference or finite-volume formulation,for the region in the immedi-ate vicinity of solid surfaces is generally dominant in determining the character of flow andheat transfer.The velocity and heat transfer on or near solid surfaces are directly dependenton the large gradients that prevail in this region near the surface,and accurate determinationof velocity and heat transfer requires that these large gradients be represented correctly.Irregular shape of structures is often encountered in most engineering problems.Theseirregular boundary shapes cannot be described by any one of the Cartesian,cylindrical,andspherical-coordinate representations.Numerical solutions of the Navier-Stokes and energy e-quations are obtained by approximating irregular boundary shapes with one of the most suitable coordinate systems of Cartesian, cylindrical,and spherical.In the process of this ap-proximation,either conservation of surface or volume of the irregular shape is usually em-ployed-Accuracy of this approximation is in general improved by using reduced mesh sizeand thus increases computer running time.However,there is no assurance of obtaining areasonable solution all the time by this approximation.A method using boundary-fitted coordinate transformation is presented.It has the capa-bility to transform arbitrary 3-D geometries in a physical domain to either a rectangular orcylindrical shape in the transformed space. The unique advantage of this transformation isthat all physical boundaries are coincident with the computational grids i thus , it will give anaccurate and efficient numerical solution to the Navier-Stokes and energy equations. A pro-cedure for coordinate generation is outlined , and the transformed Navier-Stokes and energyequations are presented.While the boundary-fitted coordinate transformation has many advantages but the trans-formation itself is not unique. In order to accomplish a successful transformation it normallyrequires insights gained from the past experiences and many trials and errors.
Treatment of the Epispadias-Exstrophy Complex with the AS792 Artificial Urinary Sphincter

The AS792 artificial urinary sphincter was implanted in 11 incontinent patients with the epispadias-exstrophy complex. To date 10 patients (91 per cent) are totally continent of urine with normal renal function and intact urinary systems. The recent reports concerning success with bladder neck reconstruction in this syndrome are reviewed. Owing to the relatively poor success of this procedure in achieving total urinary continence it is recommended strongly that insertion of the artificial urinary sphincter be the initial anti-incontinence procedure for these patients. The success rate with the artificial sphincter currently is superior to any form of bladder neck reconstruction in patients with the epispadias-exstrophy complex.
An Application of Global Marketing Via International Locations

Strategic marketing management is rapidly becoming an important issue for multinational enterprises. Changes in the global markets are forcing these firms to rely heavily on marketing managers and marketing strategies. An international facility location (IFL) strategy is one useful approach for multinational firms, which was the focus of Pomper’s research. Using Canel’s (1991) model, this paper replicated and extended Pomper’s (1976) optimum location model. This paper suggests that multinational firms could benefit from a mathematical model in evaluating the profitability of an international location and developing strategic marketing management.
MO-F-201-04: Panel Member

The goal of this session is to provide guidance to medical physicists undergoing the American Board of Radiology certification process in therapeutic medical physics. This panel discussion will focus on parts 2 (computer-based) and 3 (oral) of the examination. Unlike the latter portions of the exam which are specialty-driven, part 1 is universal for all medical physics fields and will not be addressed. This session is structured into different topics that aim to guide the participants on how to successfully prepare for the board exams. The subjects of discussion will include timing and strategies for exam preparation, crucial differences in preparing for the clinical computer-based exam versus the oral exam, what study tools are currently available for each, etc. The panel discussion format will allow the speakers to collectively present their experience and advice relating to each topic and foment audience participation. Learning Objectives: 1. Know the main differences between what is expected for parts 2 and 3 2. Know different resources for test preparation 3. Know how to formulate a plan to best study for each part based on the specific skill set the two parts require 4. Know how to best present his/her answers during the oral examination – demeanor, answer structure, etc.
Detecting Extreme Events in Gridded Climate Data

Detecting and tracking extreme events in gridded climatological data is a challenging problem on several fronts: algorithms, scalability, and I/O. Successful detection of these events will give climate scientists an alternate view of the behavior of different climatological variables, leading to enhanced scientific understanding of the impacts of events such as heat and cold waves, and on a larger scale, the El Nio Southern Oscillation. Recent advances in computing power and research in data sciences enabled us to look at this problem with a different perspective from what was previously possible. In this paper we present our computationally efficient algorithms for anomalous cluster detection on climate change big data. We provide results on detection and tracking of surface temperature and geopotential height anomalies, a trend analysis, and a study of relationships between the variables. We also identify the limitations of our approaches, future directions for research and alternate approaches.
UV fluorescence excitation spectroscopy as a non-invasive predictor of epidermal proliferation and clinical performance of cosmetic formulations

The epidermis is the outermost layer of skin and is composed of cells primarily containing keratin. It consists of about ten layers of living cells (keratinocytes) and ten layers of dead cells (corneocytes). These cells are continually shed from the outside and replaced from the inside in a process called desquamation which is controlled by two biological events – proliferation and differentiation. One method to non-invasively study biological changes in the skin is using fluorescence excitation spectroscopy. Several characteristic excitation-emission peaks occur in skin that have been related to the epidermal and dermal composition. The magnitude of the peak that occurs at 295nm excitation (F295) has been linked to changes in skin proliferation, cell turnover, epidermal thickening, and skin aging. We hypothesize that changes in this fluorescent signal could be used to assess the potential activity of cosmetic anti-aging compounds to deliver a benefit to skin. Previous work with retinol and glycolic acid, two commonly used actives that effect epidermal proliferation and exfoliation, has demonstrated an increase in F295 (attributed to tryptophan excitation fluorescence). In this study we present the results of a placebo controlled study that aims to correlate changes in F295 with biological performance (epidermal thickening and Ki67 expression).
Cost-Effectiveness of Nivolumab-Ipilimumab Combination Therapy Compared with Monotherapy for First-Line Treatment of Metastatic Melanoma in the United States

BACKGROUND: The approval of new immunotherapies has dramatically changed the treatment landscape of metastatic melanoma. These survival gains come with trade-offs in side effects and costs, as well as important considerations for third-party payer systems, physicians, and patients. OBJECTIVE: To develop a Markov model to determine the cost-effectiveness of nivolumab, ipilimumab, and nivolumab-ipilimumab combination as firstline therapy in metastatic melanoma, while accounting for differential effectiveness in programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) positive and negative patients. METHODS: A 3-state Markov model (PD-L1 positive stable disease, PD-L1 negative stable disease, and progression and/or death) was developed using a U.S. societal perspective with a lifetime time horizon of 14.5 years. Transition probabilities were calculated from progression-free (PF) survival data reported in the CheckMate-067 trial. Costs were expressed in 2015 U.S. dollars and were determined using national sources. Adverse event (AE...
THE PARTNERSHIP SPIRIT BETWEEN BUYERS AND SELLERS OF TECHNOLOGY

Technology transfert takes place at, and between, several levels of economies and is by no means restricted to transactions between industrialized and developing countries as frequently believed. The process is described in terms of the relations between the buyer and the seller of technology and of the technical, economical, social, and cultural effects and difficulties of the transfer. Major success criteria are discussed, as is each partner's share of responsibility in achieving success. The authors believe that successful technology transfer depends on a true partnership spirit, the development of people and the management mastery of the process. They present check-lists of the main factors to be taken into consideration in each step of the process of transferring into industrialized economies and into developing economies. In their conclusions, the authors discuss from a businessman's point of view some of the benefits each partner will derive from the application of this cooperative kind of relationship. Key Words. Appropriate technology; behavioral sciences; developing countries; economics; human factors; management systems; social effects of automation; teaching.
The Role of Protein–Protein Interactions in Signaling by the Ethylene Receptors

Protein–protein interactions of the ethylene receptors are involved in propagation and modulation of the ethylene signal. Interactions of the receptors with critical pathway components such as CTR1 and EIN2 are likely to involve multiple members of the receptor family. Additional interactions, such as that involving the receptor ETR1 and regulatory protein RTE1, may allow for isoform-specific signal output. Ethylene receptors also form higher order complexes with each other, suggesting a cooperative mechanism for amplification of the ethylene signal. A model incorporating the role of physical interactions in signal transmission by the receptors is described.
The New Science Wars

Science and scholarship are under attack from all sides. To a large degree the lack of appreciation is due to a fundamental misunderstanding about the nature of scientific inquiry.
Functional classification of heart failure before and after implementing a healthcare transition program for youth and young adults transferring from a pediatric to an adult congenital heart disease clinics.

Objective To describe changes in functional status between the last pediatric and first adult congenital heart disease (CHD) clinic visits in patients with moderate to severe CHD after implementing a healthcare transition (HCT) planning program. Design Quasi-experimental design. Patients were followed prospectively following the implementation of the intervention; Control patients transitioned from the Pediatric CHD Clinic into Adult CHD Clinic before the intervention. Setting Texas Children's Hospital (TCH). Patients Sixteen to 25-year-olds, cognitively normal, English speaking patients with moderate to severe CHD who transitioned from the Pediatric to the Adult CHD clinic. Interventions An EMR-based transition planning tool (TPT) was introduced into the Pediatric CHD Clinic. Two nurses used the TPT with eligible patients. Independent of the intervention, two medicine-pediatric CHD physicians and one nurse practitioner were added to the ACHD Clinic to address growing capacity needs. Outcome measures The New York Heart Association Functional Classification of Heart Failure (NYHAFS). Results Control patients waited 26 ± 19.2 months after their last pediatric clinic visit for their first adult visit. Intervention patients waited 13 ± 8.3 months (P = .019). Control and Intervention patients experienced a lapse in care greater than two (50% vs 13%, P = .017) and three (30% vs 0%, P = .011) years, respectively. The difference between the recommended number of months for follow-up and the first adult appointment (15.1 ± 17.3 Control and 4.4 ± 6.1 Intervention months) was significant (P = .025). NYHAFS deteriorated between the last Pediatric visit and the first ACHD visit for seven (23%) Control patients and no Intervention patients (P = .042). Four of seven Control patients whose NYHAFS declined had a lapse of care of more than two years. Conclusions There is a need for improved HCT planning for patients with moderate to severe CHD, otherwise, lapses of care and adverse outcomes can ensue.
Holographic Time of Flight

The Holographic Time of Flight (HTOF) method for the all-optical, contact-less investigation of charge transport in non-centrosymmetric insulators and semiconductors is based on the instantaneous photoexcitation of a spatially modulated distribution of charge carriers and on the linear electro-optic (Pockels) effect to visualize a charge-displacement by its associated refractive index change. It can be used with a free-carrier density so low that it does not otherwise have any detectable influence on the optical properties of a material, and with short free carrier lifetimes of the order of nanoseconds or less. HTOF is an especially striking example of how several independent linear and nonlinear light-matter interaction mechanisms can join to deliver a peculiar wave-mixing effect that is directly determined by a seemingly unrelated microscopic parameter: the free-carrier mobility. This chapter reviews the HTOF method and provides a detailed theoretical treatment that will be invaluable to experimentalists interested in applying this method to new materials. The author discusses the experimental parameters that influence the HTOF results and presents the basic assumptions and experimental conditions that allow the characterization of charge transport in the bulk of a material, with a sub-nanosecond time resolution only limited by the duration of the laser pulses, and for transport lengths down to a fraction of a micrometer.
Edith Stein and Autism

Applying phenomenological method and discoveries to the understanding of Autistic Syndrome Disorders (ASDs) is long overdue. Since all consciousness displays structures of intentionality, meanings that autistic persons make are available through their gestures, sounds and language to an empathetic pairing partner. While still Husserl’s student, Edith Stein wrote the book on the nature and practice of empathy. Her insights allow us to recognize consciousness of the personalistic world as that which people with “high-functioning” Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome lack since they lack empathy. Emergence from autism means entering into and living in the personalistic world, as one among others.
d-arabinose metabolism byBacteroides fragilis strain 2044

During growth in the presence of 1-14C-d-arabinose,Bacteroides fragilis strain 2044 formed labeled succinic, acetic, and propionic acis. Degradation of the acids by the Schmidt reaction revealed that at least 89% of the succinate radioactivity was found in the methylene carbons and that 75% and 84% of the label in propionate and acetate were found in the noncarboxyl carbons of these molecules. No label was found in acetate, propionate, or succinate during growth of strain 2044 in the presence of 5-3H-d-arabinose. Strain 2044 converted radioactivity from 1- or 2-labeled glycolic acid and glycine to succinate by a mechanism involving cleavage of the glycine and glycolic acid carbon skeletons. Label from 1- or 2-labeled glycine and 2 but not 1-labeled glycolic acid was found in acetate. Uniformly labeled 14C-glyoxalate gave rise to labeled acetate, but not succinate.Bacteroides fragilis strain 2044 metabolizesd-arabinose by a mechanism involving a 3∶2 cleavage of the molecule.
A hybrid approach for detecting and isolating faults in nuclear power plant interacting systems

A fault detection and isolation (FDI) system is presented that can detect and isolate nuclear power plant (NPP) faults occurring in interacting systems. The proposed methodology combines two tools, observer-based residual generation and neural network pattern matching, into a powerful, hybrid diagnostic system. A computer-based model of a commercial boiling water reactor (BWR) is used as the reference plant. Two FDI methods are implemented on each of two BWR systems, and their performance characteristics are compared. One method uses conventional neural network techniques that use parameter values for input, and a second, hybrid methodology uses system models to create residuals for input to a neural network. Both FDI systems show good generalization abilities, but only the hybrid system decouples system interactions. Although implementation is impractical for all NPP systems, this hybrid technique is most useful in specific applications where operators have difficulty diagnosing faults in strongly interacting systems.
A Combustion-Based MEMS Thermoelectric Power Generator

A thermoelectric generator with integrated catalytic combustion has been microfabricated and successfully tested. The device consists of a high-temperature silicon-germanium thermopile supported on a thermally insulating silicon nitride membrane. Heat is supplied by catalytic combustion of fuels on the underside of the membrane. Power output has been generated from on-chip autothermal combustion of hydrogen, ammonia and butane, with external power used only to drive mass-flow controllers. The device was stable at temperatures up to 500°C, with thermopile voltages up to 7V and device thermal efficiencies up to 0.02%.
Mobile Device Perceptions: Differences in Environment-Based Voluntariness

In order to complete work tasks, individuals are constantly engaging in new technologies that allow them to connect to the work place from locations and at time periods which in the past were not possible. The increased ubiquity of information and communication technologies, in particular the use of mobile devices has coincidentally increased the number of hours employees are spending on work related tasks. The research agenda of this paper is focused on post adoption and proposes that individuals who are required to use mobile devices and those who voluntarily use them will have differing perceptions on mobile device usage, usefulness, work overload, flexibility and, work-life conflict. Secondary data from a previous study, consisting of data from 185 working individuals of various demographics was analyzed. The results suggest different perceptions between the groups. The findings have practical importance as managers and firms consider supplying mobile devices to employees.
Facial Asymmetry Index: Validation and Applications in Various Smile Restoration Techniques

Consistent and objective evaluation of the paralyzed face is imperative for documenting preoperative findings and assessing postoperative outcomes of reanimation techniques. Static and dynamic facial asymmetry are the key features of the paralyzed face. To date, there is no consensus among surgeons on how best to document facial asymmetry. The authors propose a Facial Asymmetry Index (FAI) as an objective measure of facial asymmetry and validate its use and reliability across numerous reanimation techniques. Frontal photographs of patients with unilateral facial nerve paralysis were analyzed. The length from the medial canthus to the ipsilateral oral commissure was compared between affected and nonaffected sides. The FAI is the difference between the two values, with a higher value reflecting poorer facial symmetry. Validation and reliability testing was then performed. There was a consistent decrease in the FAI with procedural intervention (FAI pre = 10.1, FAI post = 3.17; p < 0.0001). Furthermore, there was excellent inter- and intrarater reliability among independent judges. The FAI is a powerful and accessible tool to quantify operative outcomes for many lower facial nerve reanimation techniques.
Real-Time Closed-Loop System Identification of a Quadcopter

Real-time estimation of dynamic model parameters for an unmanned aircraft can provide valuable information about the dynamics of the vehicle. However, the aircraft model estimation performance can ...
Evaporation-driven solutocapillary flow of thin liquid films over curved substrates

Evaporation of a volatile solvent induces solutocapillary Marangoni flows by creating gradients in species concentration and surface tension. These flows are experimentally and theoretically investigated in sub-micron films at dilute solute concentrations where Van der Waals effects are important.
Students and Stocks: A Critical Reading of the Stock Market Game™.

AbstractAccording to the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, which sponsors the Stock Market Game (SMG), more than 600,000 students participate in the SMG each year. The rational...
Mitigating the Sign Problem through Basis Rotations.

Quantum Monte Carlo simulations of quantum many-body systems are plagued by the Fermion sign problem. The computational complexity of simulating Fermions scales exponentially in the projection time $\ensuremath{\beta}$ and system size. The sign problem is basis dependent and an improved basis, for fixed errors, leads to exponentially quicker simulations. We show how to use sign-free quantum Monte Carlo simulations to optimize over the choice of basis on large two-dimensional systems. We numerically illustrate these techniques decreasing the ``badness'' of the sign problem by optimizing over single-particle basis rotations on one- and two-dimensional Hubbard systems. We find a generic rotation which improves the average sign of the Hubbard model for a wide range of $U$ and densities for $L\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}4$ systems. In one example improvement, the average sign (and hence simulation cost at fixed accuracy) for the $16\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}4$ Hubbard model at $U/t=4$ and $n=0.75$ increases by $\mathrm{exp}[8.64(6)\ensuremath{\beta}]$. For typical projection times of $\ensuremath{\beta}⪆100$, this accelerates such simulation by many orders of magnitude.