cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of bacterial contamination on friction and wear in metal/polyethylene bearings for total joint repair—A case report

During preclinical wear evaluation of joint replacement components bacterial contamination is a concern. However, there are no standardized procedures to retard microbial growth and little is known about the potential effects on friction and wear. Recently, the fraction of low-molecular weight proteins has been shown to decrease in the presence of bacteria and it is well established that the lubricant proteins play an important role in the wear of polyethylene components. In this case report we show that the presence of bacterial and fungal contamination can alter polyethylene friction and wear. Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene pins were tested in a pin-on-flat tribometer using two bovine serum lubricants, A and B, identical, except that lubricant B contained a bactericide and fungicide (gentamicin and Fungizone®, respectively). Each test consisted of consecutive 250,000 cycle runs after which the pins were cleaned and weighed and fresh lubricant was used for the next run. Wear was determined gravimetrically and chemically via a tracer substance. The presence of the anti-microbial agents stabilized the friction coefficient around 0.06, which otherwise increased to values above 0.1 after an incubation period of 150,000 cycles. The bactericide also led to a significant reduction in the polyethylene wear rate, and wear factors obtained with lubricant B were six-fold lower than those in lubricant A. The results of this case study suggest the possibility that microbial contamination should be considered as a potential factor in evaluating the wear rate of polyethylene. Reproducible polyethylene wear testing may therefore entail proper bactericidal and fungicidal protocols. These results also suggest that the effects of joint infections on the wear of prosthetic bearing surfaces and concomitant clinical implications bear investigation.
Induction of Direct Antimicrobial Activity Through Mammalian Toll-Like Receptors

The mammalian innate immune system retains from Drosophila a family of homologous Toll-like receptors (TLRs) that mediate responses to microbial ligands. Here, we show that TLR2 activation leads to killing of intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis in both mouse and human macrophages, through distinct mechanisms. In mouse macrophages, bacterial lipoprotein activation of TLR2 leads to a nitric oxide-dependent killing of intracellular tubercle bacilli, but in human monocytes and alveolar macrophages, this pathway was nitric oxide-independent. Thus, mammalian TLRs respond (as Drosophila Toll receptors do) to microbial ligands and also have the ability to activate antimicrobial effector pathways at the site of infection.
Abstract W P21: Extent of Reperfusion and Clinical Outcomes After Endovascular Therapy: More is Better

Background: Revascularization is critical to the treatment of acute stroke, yet the association between degree of reperfusion and clinical outcome of endovascular therapy has been incompletely characterized. Methods: In a prospectively maintained registry, we analyzed acute ischemic stroke patients treated with endovascular therapy from 2004-2013. Final TICI scores were compared to non-disabled (mRS 0-2), independent (mRS 0-3), and poor (mRS 5-6) outcomes at discharge in a univariate analysis. Multiple regression analysis was performed to separate effects of baseline patient characteristics, stroke severity, complications, and technical aspects of endovascular treatment. To determine the maximal predictive value of the TICI score, the ROC curve for binned combinations of TICI were compared. Results: Of 183 patients, age was mean 68.4 ± 16.9 years, 58% were female, baseline NIHSS was 16.5 ± 6.9, and mean time from stroke onset to groin puncture was 395 ± 378 minutes. At discharge, the rate of freedom from ...
Figuring Responsibility and Fault

(2002). Figuring Responsibility and Fault. King's Law Journal: Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 227-239.
Abstract 4846: Automated RNA and DNA purification from FFPE samples

Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples are commonly used for archiving pathology samples for use by many researchers including clinical research labs. These samples provide a valuable tool for retrospective studies of diseases such as cancer. Traditional methods for the purification of DNA or RNA from FFPE tissue samples are often labor intensive, include the use of hazardous organic reagents, and involve difficult pre-processing steps. Here, we describe development of automated methods for the purification of RNA or DNA from FFPE tissue sections using the Maxwell® RSC Instrument, which can process between 1 and 16 samples. DNA was purified from FFPE mouse brain, liver, lung, skin and spleen as well as FFPE human colon. RNA was purified from FFPE mouse brain, liver, lung, skin and spleen as well as FFPE human breast tissue. Eluates were tested for inhibition in qPCR or RT-qPCR. A comparison with another automated method was performed with FFPE mouse spleen and skin and a human tissue. The Maxwell RSC methods produced high quality amplifiable DNA or RNA from a variety of sample types with little or no inhibition. In addition, these methods simplified pre-processing, minimized hands-on time, and did not use hazardous organics. Citation Format: Michelle Mandrekar, Douglas Horejsh, Samantha Lewis, Chris Moreland, Marjeta Urh. Automated RNA and DNA purification from FFPE samples. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 4846. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-4846
Fourth sound in4He in reinforced aerogels

Measurements of the critical sound mode in4He in aerogels, grown in sintered silver show that in these composite media this mode again resembles fourth sound.
The Combustion of Heavy Distillate Fuels in Heavy Duty Gas Turbines

Heavy distillate fuel oils are being offered for use in gas turbines at a significant reduction in fuel cost. This paper will summarize the characteristics of some of these fuels, their effect on gas turbine combustion performance, and the problems associated with their use.Copyright © 1971 by ASME
Oviposition of a Parasite Bracon mellitor1 Attacking Larvae of the Boll Weevil2 inside the Cotton Square3

When Adams et al. (1969) investigated the biology and oviposition of Bracon mellitor Say, they observed oviposition on larvae of the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, in open petri dishes. A new technique made it possible for us to observe in detail the natural act of oviposition of these parasites inside a square (flower bud) under a binocular scope.
What We Mean When We Say "What's the Dollar of Mexico?": Prototypes and Mapping in Concept Space

We assume that the brain is some kind of a computer and look at operations implied by the figurative use of language. Figurative language is pervasive, bypasses the literal meaning of what is said and is interpreted metaphorically or by analogy. Such an interpretation calls for a mapping in concept space, leading us to speculate about the nature of concept space in terms of readily computable mappings. We find that mappings of the appropriate kind are possible in high-dimensional spaces and demonstrate them with the simplest such space, namely, where the dimensions are binary. Two operations on binary vectors, one akin to addition and the other akin to multiplication, allow new representations to be composed from existing ones, and the ``multiplication'' operation is also suited for the mapping. The properties of high-dimensional spaces have been shown elsewhere to correspond to cognitive phenomena such as memory recall. The present ideas further suggest the suitability of high-dimensional representation for cognitive modeling.
Change-Effects Analysis for Evolving Software

Abstract Software constantly changes during its life cycle. This phenomenon is particularly prominent in modern software, whose complexity keeps growing and changes rapidly in response to market pressures and user demands. At the same time, developers must assure the quality of this software in a timely manner. Therefore, it is of critical importance to provide developers with effective tools and techniques to analyze, test, and validate their software as it evolves. While techniques for supporting software evolution abound, a conceptual foundation for understanding, analyzing, comparing, and developing new techniques is also necessary for the continuous growth of this field. A key challenge for many of these techniques is to accurately model and compute the effects of changes on the behavior of software systems. Such a model helps understand, compare, and further advance important activities such as change-impact analysis, regression testing, test-suite augmentation, and program merging. To address this challenge, in this chapter, we describe our progress and those of other researchers in developing and studying a foundational approach called change-effects analysis . This kind of analysis computes, in an ideal setting (i.e., given unlimited resources), all the differences that a change in the code of a program can cause on every element (e.g., statement) of that program. These differences include not only which program elements are affected by a change, but also how exactly their behavior (i.e., execution frequency and states) is affected. Naturally, computing all possible effects of changes is an undecidable problem. However, such a model for computing change effects can be the basis for practical approaches that approximate those effects. In this chapter, we describe various such approximations for change-effects analysis and their application to two key tasks in software evolution: change-impact analysis and change testing.
Symmetric Multiprocessing MTX

Chapter 15 covers Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP). It explains multiprocessor and SMP-compliant systems, configuring IOAPIC and local APICs for SMP operations and the startup sequence of SMP systems. It discusses the principles of SMP kernel design, and it presents a general methodology for adapting uniprocessor (UP) kernels to SMP systematically. These include protecting kernel data structures and adapting UP algorithms for SMP. Based on these, it extends the UP PMTX to SMP. Then it focuses on the design and use of parallel algorithms for SMP. Specifically, it shows how to use parallel algorithms for process management, resource management, pipes and I/O buffer management in the SMP_MTX kernel to improve both concurrency and efficiency. In addition, it also shows a SMP system in 16-bit real mode. Lastly, it presents a comprehensive description of the PMTX and SMP_MTX systems.
Dynamical Systems, IID Random Iterations, and Markov Chains

The many areas in mathematical statistics, probability theory, statistics processes, and mathematical analysis to which Professor Rabi Bhattacharya has made important and deep contributions include the topics in the title of this paper. In this paper we shall outline some interesting recent results in these topics.
Venous Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism in a Child With Pneumonia Due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae

A 13-year-old boy with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pulmonary infection developed deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. He was found to have protein S deficiency and transient antiphospholipid antibodies. Though uncommon, it is important to consider venous thromboembolic disease in children whose clinical course is atypically severe.
Developing a GeoPackage mobile app to support field operations in agriculture

GeoPackage, an open format for geospatial information, provides a gateway to bridge agricultural geographic information and mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. In this paper, we present a Cordova framework based GeoPackage mobile application to support field operations in agriculture. By implementing GeoPackage SDK on mobile application, GeoPackage files can be easily accessed, managed, and visualized in field operation. Based on Cordova framework's powerful extensibility, the application can be run on multiple mobile platforms such as iOS, Android, and Windows Phone to meet requirement of clients using different types of mobile operating system.
Postneoliberal Public Health Care Reforms: Neoliberalism, Social Medicine, and Persistent Health Inequalities in Latin America

Several Latin American countries are implementing a suite of so-called "postneoliberal" social and political economic policies to counter neoliberal models that emerged in the 1980s. This article considers the influence of postneoliberalism on public health discourses, policies, institutions, and practices in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. Social medicine and neoliberal public health models are antecedents of postneoliberal public health care models. Postneoliberal public health governance models neither fully incorporate social medicine nor completely reject neoliberal models. Postneoliberal reforms may provide an alternative means of reducing health inequalities and improving population health.
Gamma radiation induced conductivity in solid insulation

A study of the effects of gamma radiation on the electrical conductivity of glasses is of interest because of the practical uses of these insulators, and because the mechanism of induced conductivity is not expected to be affected by chemical degradation caused by the irradiation as in the case of organic insulation.
Self-Assembled Plasmonic Core-Shell Clusters for Infrared Resonators

Infrared resonators emerge as key building blocks of infrared optical devices for widespread applications. We show that self-assembled core-shell clusters exhibit unique spectral features determined by the number, configuration, and dielectric properties of the particles.
Can a collaborative subspecialty antimicrobial stewardship intervention have lasting effects

We previously demonstrated the benefit of direct, daily collaboration between infectious disease (ID) and critical care practitioners (CCP) on guideline adherence and antibiotic use in the medical intensive care unit (MICU). In this post-intervention review, we sought to establish whether the effect on antibiotic use and guideline adherence was sustainable. A retrospective review of 87 patients, admitted to the 24-bed MICU, was done 3 (n = 45) and 6 months (n = 42) after the intervention. Data included demographics, severity indicators, admitting pathology, infectious diagnosis, clinical outcomes [mechanical ventilation days (MVD) and MICU length of stay (LOS), antibiotic days of therapy (DOT), in-hospital mortality], and antibiotic appropriateness based on current guidelines. In the 3-month (3-PI) and 6-month post-intervention (6-PI), there were no significant differences in the APACHE II score, MVD, LOS, DOT, or total antibiotic use at 3 (p = 0.59) and 6-PI (p = 0.87). There was no change in the mean use of extended-spectrum penicillins, cephalosporin, and carbapenems. While there were significant differences in vancomycin usage at 3-PI [3.1 DOT vs. 4.3 DOT (p = 0.007)], this finding was not seen after 6 months [3.1 DOT vs. 3.4 DOT (p = 0.08)]. When compared to the intervention period, the inappropriateness of antibiotic use at 3 (p = 1.00) and 6-PI (p = 0.30) did not change significantly. There were no significant differences in either total antibiotic use or inappropriate antibiotic use at the 6-PI time period. Continuous, daily, direct collaboration between ID and CCP, once implemented, can have lasting effects even at 6 months after the interaction has been discontinued.
Fractal-Based Image and Video Coding

This chapter reviews the theoretical foundations and implementation issues of fractal-based image coding methods. The concepts of fractals, iterated function systems, and local iterated function systems are discussed and different implementations of compression of both still images and image sequences are reviewed.
Deep learning in computer-aided diagnosis incorporating mammographic characteristics of both tumor and parenchyma stroma

We investigated the additive role of breast parenchyma stroma in the computer-aided diagnosis (CADx) of tumors on full-field digital mammograms (FFDM) by combining images of the tumor and contralateral normal parenchyma information via deep learning. The study included 182 breast lesions in which 106 were malignant and 76 were benign. All FFDM images were acquired using a GE 2000D Senographe system and retrospectively collected under an Institution Review Board (IRB) approved, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant protocol. Convolutional neutral networks (CNNs) with transfer learning were used to extract image-based characteristics of lesions and of parenchymal patterns (on the contralateral breast) directly from the FFDM images. Classification performance was evaluated and compared between analysis of only tumors and that of combined tumor and parenchymal patterns in the task of distinguishing between malignant and benign cases with the area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) used as the figure of merit. Using only lesion image data, the transfer learning method yielded an AUC value of 0.871 (SE=0.025) and using combined information from both lesion and parenchyma analyses, an AUC value of 0.911 (SE=0.021) was observed. This improvement was statistically significant (p-value=0.0362). Thus, we conclude that using CNNs with transfer learning to combine extracted image information of both tumor and parenchyma may improve breast cancer diagnosis.
The Copernican era of healthcare terminology: a re-centering of health information systems.

Abstract Health terminology and classifications have been an unseen backwater in healthcare practice and information systems development. Today however, the recognized need for comparable patient data is driving a new discovery about its strategic importance. Consistent patient descriptions and concept-centered data representations are crucial for efficient discovery of optimal treatments, best outcomes, and efficient practice patterns. The fabled linkage of knowledge sources at the time and place of care requires the conceptual intermediary of common terminology. A brief history overviewing the evolution of health classifications will provide the foundation for considering present and evolving health terminology developments. Their roles in health information systems will be characterized. Discussion will focus on the likely influences of the HIPAA legislation nationally and the new ISO Healthcare Informatics Technical Committee internationally, on terminology adaptation and incorporation.
Dual-level consensus-based frequency regulation using vehicle-to-grid service

Abstract To coordinate plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) to support the primary frequency control, this paper presents a dual-level consensus-based frequency control method. The upper-level control aims to minimize the frequency deviation of multi-area power system, and the lower-level control aims to minimize the frequency regulation cost and battery degradation cost for individual PEVs. The incremental cost functions are formulated based on the objectives of the dual control levels, in this case, no objective function needs to be solved, and instead, the optimal results can be achieved by reaching a consensus incremental cost among neighboring individuals. The graph theory is applied to build the communication network among neighboring control areas in upper-level control, and among neighboring PEVs in lower-level control. The consensus algorithm is applied to specify the information updating and exchange among neighboring individuals. In addition, the dynamic models of multi-area power system and PEVs are developed for controller implementation and investigation. The simulation with different case studies are conducted to validate the performance of the proposed dual-level frequency control. The simulation results show that, with limited communication, the connected PEVs can be efficiently coordinated via dual-level controller to provide primary frequency regulation service, and meanwhile meet the battery charging/discharging constraints.
Teachers’ Social Networks, College-Going Practices, and the Diffusion of a School-Based Reform Initiative:

This study examines the association between high school teachers’ collegial networks and their own familiarity with, and practices related to, supporting students’ admission to college. Using surve...
Regularity of hyperbolic equations underL2(0,T; L2(Γ))-Dirichlet boundary terms

With Ω an open bounded domain inRn with boundary Γ, letf(t; f0,f1;u) be the solution to a second order linear hyperbolic equation defined on Ω, under the action of the forcing termu(t) applied in the Dirichlet B.C., and with initial dataf0 źL2(Ω) andf1 źHź1(Ω). In a previous paper [6], we proved (among other things) that the mapu ź f ź ft, from the Dirichlet input into the solution is continuous fromL2(0,T; L2(Γ)) intoL2(0,T; L2(Ω))źL2(0, T; Hź1(Ω)). Here, we make crucial use of this result to present the following marked improvement: the mapu ź f źft is continuous fromL2(0, T; L2(Γ)) intoC([0, T]; L2(Ω))źC([0, T]; Hź1(Ω)). Our approach uses the cosine operator model introduced in [6], along with crucial relevant fact from cosine operator theory. A new trace theory result, on which we base our proof here, plays also a decisive role in the corresponding quadratic optimal control problem [7]. Whenu, instead, acts in the Neumann B. C. and Ω is either a sphere or a parallelepiped, the same approach leads to the same improvement over results obtained in [6] to the regularity int of the solution (i.e., fromL2(0, T) toC[0, T]).
Case Study of Self-Healing in Metallic Composite with Embedded Low Melting Temperature Solders

In the preceding chapter, we discussed the general principles of the thermodynamics of self-healing with the emphasis on metallic materials. In this chapter, we concentrate on the multiscale nature of self-healing mechanisms. To illustrate the multiscale nature of entropy production, we investigate a particular example of grain growth in metals. After that we discuss a prototype system involving an Al alloy reinforced with microtubes, filled with Sn60Pb40 solder; this is discussed as a case study.
A Pediatric Case of Transformed Mycosis Fungoides in a BRCA2 Positive Patient

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas are very rare in children. Although mycosis fungoides is the most common of these rare cutaneous T-cell lymphomas in children, transformation to an aggressive malignancy remains extremely uncommon, and there are no clear guidelines for clinical management in the pediatric population. In addition, the increased usage of next-generation sequencing for pediatric patients with unusual malignancies may result in the discovery of pathogenic germline mutations, though the association between these mutations and the patient's cancer is not always clear. We present here a unique pediatric case of transformed mycosis fungoides in a patient with BRCA2 mutation.
Failure of brittle micro-spherical shells embedded in elastomer matrix under indentation

Abstract Silicone elastomer filled with glass micro balloons (GMB) is an elastomeric syntactic foam used in electronics and component packaging for encapsulation, potting, stress-relief layer, and electrical insulation purposes. Under mechanical loading, the reinforcing phase, namely the GMBs embedded in the elastomer matrix, may break or delaminate, leading to internal damage and macroscale stiffness degradation, which can alter the material's protective capacity against mechanical shock and vibration. The degree of damage is controlled by the loading history, delamination, and failure behavior of the GMBs. We investigate the GMB failure behavior in this work wherein we present an indentation experiment to measure the force required to fail individual GMBs that are either embedded in the elastomer matrix or adhered to the surface of an elastomer layer. The indentation apparatus is augmented with an inverted optical microscope to enable in situ imaging of the GMB. Failure modes for the embedded or non-embedded GMBs are discussed based on the morphology of the broken GMBs and the measured failure forces. We also measure the adhesion energy between the glass balloon and the elastomer, based on which the possibility of delamination between the GMB and the surrounding elastomer matrix during the failure process is evaluated. Our results can facilitate the development of a failure criterion of GMBs which is necessary for establishing a physics-based constitutive model to describe the macroscopic damage mechanics of elastomeric syntactic foams.
Photon Upconversion in Aqueous Nanodroplets

Triplet fusion upconversion, the conversion of two low-energy photons into one higher-energy photon via excitonic intermediates, has the potential to revolutionize fields as diverse as biological i...
Limits on All Known (and Some Unknown) Approaches to Matrix Multiplication

In this talk we will consider the known techniques for designing Matrix Multiplication algorithms. The two main approaches are the Laser method of Strassen, and the Group theoretic approach of Cohn and Umans. We define generalizations that subsume these two approaches: the Galactic and the Universal method; the latter is the most general method there is. We then design a suite of techniques for proving lower bounds on the value of ω, the exponent of matrix multiplication, which can be achieved by algorithms using many tensors T and the Galactic method. Some of our techniques exploit 'local' properties of~T, like finding a sub-tensor of T which is so 'weak' that T itself couldn't be used to achieve a good bound on ω, while others exploit 'global' properties, like T being a monomial degeneration of the structural tensor of a group algebra.The main result is that there is a universal constant l > 2 such that a large class of tensors generalizing the Coppersmith-Winograd tensor CWq cannot be used within the Galactic method to show a bound on ω better than l, for any q. We give evidence that previous lower-bounding techniques were not strong enough to show this.The talk is based on joint work with Josh Alman, which appeared in FOCS 2018. More recently, Alman showed how to extend our techniques, showing that with some work they apply to the Universal method as well. In particular, Alman shows that the Coppersmith-Winograd tensor cannot yield a better bound on ω than 2.16805 even using the Universal method.
Deep BCD-Net Using Identical Encoding-Decoding CNN Structures for Iterative Image Recovery

In “extreme” computational imaging that collects extremely undersampled or noisy measurements, obtaining an accurate image within a reasonable computing time is challenging. Incorporating image mapping convolutional neural networks (CNN) into iterative image recovery has great potential to resolve this issue. This paper 1) incorporates image mapping CNN using identical convolutional kernels in both encoders and decoders into a block coordinate descent (BCD) signal recovery method and 2) applies alternating direction method of multipliers to train the aforementioned image mapping CNN. We refer to the proposed recurrent network as BCD-Net using identical encoding-decoding CNN structures. Numerical experiments show that, for a) denoising low signal-to-noise-ratio images and b) extremely undersampled magnetic resonance imaging, the proposed BCD-Net achieves significantly more accurate image recovery, compared to BCD-Net using distinct encoding-decoding structures and/or the conventional image recovery model using both wavelets and total variation.
The PICTURE-C exoplanetary direct imaging balloon mission: first flight preparation

The Planetary Imaging Concept Testbed Using a Recoverable Experiment - Coronagraph (PICTURE-C) mission will directly image debris disks and exozodiacal dust around nearby stars from a high-altitude balloon using a vector vortex coronagraph. The first flight of PICTURE-C launched from the NASA Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Ft. Sumner, NM on September 28, 2019 and ew for a total of 20 hours, with 16 hours at oat altitude above 110,000 ft. This flight successfully demonstrated many key technologies for exoplanetary direct imaging missions and all hardware components for the second, science-focused flight of PICTURE-C scheduled for the fall of 2021. These technologies include a vector vortex coronagraph, high and low-order deformable mirrors and a high speed low-order wavefront control system. The experiment also demonstrated a 60 cm off-axis telescope with a hexapod-actuated secondary mirror that aligned itself automatically during flight. This paper details the ight performance of PICTURE-C, focusing on the operation of the low-order wavefront control system and the influence of high-frequency structural vibrations. We present new structural modifications that have been made to reduce these vibrations and laboratory demonstrations of the ight 2 coronagraph, which uses a high-order 952 actuator MEMS deformable mirror to create a high-contrast dark zone.
Bacterial quorum sensing allows graded responses to variations in density, on both individual and population scales

Quorum sensing (QS) is a mechanism of cell-to-cell communication via diffusible signal molecules that controls multiple secreted factors including virulence factors in bacterial pathogens. While the standard view is that QS functions as a density-sensing mechanism, the functional and evolutionary context of QS continues to be disputed. A critical step in assessing the various adaptive hypotheses is establishing the functional capacities and limits of QS. Current functional studies largely focus on a dichotomy of QS on/off (or, quorate / sub-quorate) states, despite the increasing amount of heterogeneity on a cellular scale, overlooking the potential for intermediate, graded responses. In this paper we explore the functional capacity of QS to resolve finely graded environmental densities and introduce the use of reaction norms as a way to holistically characterize QS response. Here we show that Pseudomonas aeruginosa can deliver a graded response to variation in environmental population density on both the population and individual scales. We further resolve the linear population response to be the product of two component cellular reaction norms: the likelihood of being responsive and the intensity of response. Overall, this work reveals that there is no critical cell mass or 9quorum9, at which QS is activated on either the individual cell or population scale.
Comparative study of perceived service quality between Bank of Ceylon and Commercial

Banks are financial institution where accept the deposits from their customers and providing loan facilities to them. Nowadays banks are very important service provider in the world .Providing the quality of service has gained momentum and in particular the banking sector is the main focus of attention for its quality of services. This study is based on SERVQUAL scale model.
Detonation propagation for shock-driven, subsonic and supersonic confiner flow

We study the compressible flow dynamics of two-dimensional, steady detonation wave propagation in a high explosive (HE) confined by aluminium (Al) or stainless steel (SS), outside of which is an air layer. We examine how the thickness of the confinement affects the subsonic detonation driving zone structure (DDZ) and the detonation speed , demonstrating a strong dependence on whether the oblique shock-driven flow in the confiner is supersonic, as for SS, or subsonic, as for Al. A characteristic path analysis is used to examine the information flow from the material boundaries through the supersonic flow regions in both the HE and confiner that can impact the sonic surfaces bounding the subsonic flow regions. It is shown that the nature of gas-dynamic wave reflection off the SS–air or Al–air boundary can significantly influence the DDZ and .
Metamaterial-Inspired Planar Cells for Miniaturized Filtering Applications

With the rapid advancement in the using of next-generation wireless communication systems, the demand for high-throughput microwave planar filters with miniaturized size and high selectivity increased exponentially [1, 2].
The Solar Wind Speed Expansion Factor [ v${v}$ – fs$f _{\text{s}}$ ] Relationship at the Inner Boundary (18 R⊙$\text{R}_{\odot }$ ) of the Heliosphere

The accuracy of data-driven magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) models depends on accurate boundary conditions specified at the inner heliosphere. However, not all of the MHD parameters [$\boldsymbol{B}, \boldsymbol{v}, \rho , T$] are measurable close to the Sun at the present time, except the vector magnetic field [$\boldsymbol{B} $] at the photosphere. The solar wind speed [$\boldsymbol{v}$], which is probably most relevant to space-weather forecasting, is often modeled by the standard Wang–Sheeley (WS) formula, which is based on an inverse relationship between the solar wind speed [$\boldsymbol{v}$] at 1 AU and the expansion factor [$f_{\text{s}}$] estimated at 2.5 solar radii [$\text{R}_{ \odot }$], with the following generic form: ${v} = {v}_{1} + {v}_{2} f_{\text{s}}^{- \alpha }$ (where $\boldsymbol{v}$ is the solar wind speed at 18 $\text{R}_{\odot }$, $f_{\text{s}}$ is the magnetic-field expansion factor, and ${v}_{1}$, ${v}_{2}$, and $\alpha $ are three free parameters to be determined). While the WS formula uses “source projection” to determine the solar wind source, it does not treat the solar wind as plasma because it uses the solar wind speed observed at 1 AU to derive the empirical relationship. Thus, the resulting formula ignores the transport and acceleration of the solar wind as it propagates out into the heliosphere. The purpose of this study is to rectify this omission by using a numerical MHD simulation to find the optimal set of free parameters that relate the magnetic properties at the source surface to the plasma parameters at 1 AU. In addition to the expansion factor, conservation of mass [$\rho \boldsymbol{v}$], magnetic flux [$r ^{2} B$], and total pressure along the stream line are assumed to obtain the solar wind mass density, magnetic field, and temperature at 18 $\text{R}_{\odot }$. These parameters are used as the inner boundary conditions of our global three-dimensional MHD (G3DMHD) code to simulate solar wind plasma and field parameters out to ${\approx}\, 1~\mbox{AU}$. The simulation results are compared with the in-situ data from Wind to assess the accuracy. Such a procedure is repeated (880 times) to cover the three parameter regimes ($100 < {v}_{1} < 350~\mbox{km}\,\mbox{s}^{-1}$; $250 < {v}_{2} < 700~\mbox{km}\,\mbox{s}^{-1}$; and $0.2 < \alpha < 0.9$) to find the optimal set. The simulation is performed for the period of CR2082 [30 March 2019 to 27 April 2009]. It is found that $\boldsymbol{v} = 189 + 679 f_{\text{s}}^{-0.7}$ is the best formula to relate the solar wind speed at 18 $\text{R}_{\odot }$ to the expansion factor. Strictly speaking, this formula is most applicable for solar equatorial regions and near the times of solar minimum when there are few coronal mass ejection events.
Gastric antral vascular ectasia in systemic sclerosis: Association with anti-RNA polymerase III and negative anti-nuclear antibodies.

Abstract Objective. Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) is a vascular manifestation of systemic sclerosis (SSc) that can lead to iron deficiency anemia or acute gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. We aimed to identify clinical features associated with GAVE. Methods. We performed a cohort study of SSc patients who were seen at Stanford between 2004 and 2018 and had undergone esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). We compared the clinical features of those with and without GAVE, and multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify clinical correlates with GAVE. Results. A total of 225 patients with SSc who underwent EGD were included in this study and 19 (8.4%) had GAVE. Those with GAVE were more likely to have scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) (21% vs 3%; p Conclusion. Positive anti-RNA polymerase III antibody and ANA negativity were significantly associated with GAVE. Further studies are necessary to determine whether patients with these autoantibody profiles should undergo screening endoscopies for GAVE.
Asymmetrical perceptions of partisan political bots

Political bots are social media algorithms that impersonate political actors and interact with other users, aiming to influence public opinion. This study investigates the ability to differentiate ...
The mini-Bentall approach: Comparison with full sternotomy.

Background The upper mini sternotomy Bentall (mini-Bentall) procedure may result in less trauma and earlier recovery compared with the full sternotomy Bentall procedure (full Bentall). This study compares immediate and 1- and 3-year survival rates after mini- and full Bentall procedures. Methods Between February 2009 and July 2019, 48 patients underwent a mini-Bentall and 49 underwent a full Bentall. Patients who required concomitant procedures, reoperations, or hypothermic circulatory arrest were excluded from our analysis. The mean patient age was 60.7 years in the mini-Bentall group and 59.0 years in the full Bentall group. Results There were no in-hospital mortalities. The median cardiopulmonary bypass time (mini-Bentall: 165 minutes [interquartile range (IQR), 155.5-183 minutes]; full Bentall: 164 minutes [IQR, 150-187 minutes]; P = .619) and aortic cross-clamp times (139 minutes [IQR, 128.5-153 minutes] vs 137 minutes [IQR, 125-156 minutes]; P = .948) were not significantly different between the 2 groups. The mini-Bentall group had a significantly shorter median ventilation time compared with the full Bentall group (5.5 hours [IQR, 3-14 hours] vs 17 hours [IQR, 11-23 hours]; P < .001). None of the patients in the mini-Bentall group had postoperative bleeding necessitating reoperation, whereas 4 patients (8.2%) underwent reoperation after full Bentall (P = .043). The mini-Bentall group also had a shorter median hospital length of stay (6 days [IQR, 5-8 days] vs 7 days [IQR, 6-8 days]; P = .086). Survival at 1 and 3 years was 100% in both cohorts. Conclusions Patients required significantly less ventilation time and reoperations for bleeding after the mini-Bentall procedure. There were no significant differences in cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic cross-clamp times, or intensive care unit and hospital length of stay between the mini-Bentall and full Bentall groups. The mini-Bentall approach is associated with low morbidity and mortality.
EXCORALLANA MALTAI SP. N. (ISOPODA: CORALLANIDAE) PARÁSITO DE PECES DEL RÍO XINGU, PARÁ, BRASIL

La nueva especie Excorallana maltai sp. n. dif i ere de las demas especies del genero por la ornamentacion de las antenas 1 y 2 , el n u mero de los articulos de las antenas, la ornamentacion de los pereopodos 1 y 7, la ornamentacion y forma de las piezas bucales, ademas de los tuberculos en los pleonitos, telson y pereonito. Excorallana maltai sp. n. es la segunda especie de la familia Corallanidae conocida por parasitar peces del agua dulce en la region Amazonica.
Comparison of PCB, Square loop and Rod type Magnetorquers for Cubesatellites

Magnetorquers are an essential part of the Attitude Determination and Control Systems (ADCS) of space vehicles, especially cube satellites. In this paper, we compare the magnetic dipole moment, response time, weight and other important parameters of three different magnetorquers: the printed circuit board type, square loop and rod type. Hence, cube satellite designers can select their preferred design based on the available constraints.
HR Coatings Prepared from Colloidal Suspensions

We have now established that sol-gel HR coatings prepared from colloidal oxide suspensions are superior to those prepared from solutions of precursor materials. Our investigation of single coatings of ZrO/sub 2/, HfO/sub 2/ and Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ . H/sub 2/O prepared from suspensions has indicated that those from Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ . H/sub 2/O have the highest laser damage threshold at 1064 nm. We have prepared HR coatings by stacking Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ . H/sub 2/O and SiO/sub 2/, also prepared from suspension, in the conventional manner achieving reflectivity of 99% with 35 layers. The damage threshold of these materials has however only been about half that of single coats of the component oxides. 4 refs., 3 figs., 1 tab.
Mixtures and the Density Operator

In this chapter we generalize our treatment of two-level systems to include various kinds of damping. Some of these can be incorporated directly into the equations of motion for the probability amplitudes. However, two important kinds cannot: upper to lower level decay, and more rapid decay of the electric dipole than the average level decay rate. For these two damping mechanisms, we need a more general description than can be provided by the state vector. Specifically, we need to consider systems for which we do not possess the maximum knowledge allowed by quantum mechanics. In other words, we do not know the state vector of the system, but rather the classical probabilities for having various possible state vectors. Such situations are described by the density operator ρ, which is a sum of projectors |ψ i 〉〈ψ i | onto the possible state vectors |ψ i 〉, each weighted by a classical probability P i .
Trust-Based Collaborative Control for Teams in Communication Networks

Trust establishment in distributed communication networks such as mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs), sensor networks and ubiquitous computing systems is considered to be more difficult than in traditional hierarchical structures such as the Internet and Wireless LANs centered on base-stations and access nodes. Teams in disaster response and elsewhere may be heterogeneous networks consisting of interacting humans, ground sensors, and unmanned airborne or ground vehicles (UAV, UGV). Developed military team scenarios include the War-fighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T Figure 1), DARPA Agile Information Control Environment (AICE), C4ISR Architectures for the War-fighter (CAW), Joint Force Air Component Commander (JFACC) Project, etc. Such scenarios should provide intelligent shared services of sensors and mobile nodes to augment the capabilities of the remote-site mission commander and on-site personnel in terms of extended sensing ranges, sensing of modalities such as IR and ultrasound not normally open to humans, and cooperative control of UAV/UGV to extend the range of human team members. Also Automated decision assistance (e.g., handheld PDAs) should be provided to onsite personnel based on algorithms that only depend on local information from nearest neighbor sensor nodes or humans, yet yield network-wide guaranteed performance.
Plant water uptake by hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes at 2°C and low light intensity

Hard red winter wheat (HRWW; Triticum aestivm L.) plants from genotypes selected in the Northern Great Plains of the U.S. have less tissue water after exposure to cool autumn temperatures than plants from the Southern Great Plains. It is generally assumed that the reduced tissue water content of northern compared to southern cultivars is due to an impedance to water uptake by northern plants as a result of the low autumn temperatures. We hypothesize that if low temperature impedes water uptake then less soil water would be removed by northern than by southern-selected cultivars. This hypothesis was tested by comparing plant water uptake of a northern (FR) and a southern (FS) cultivar in relation to their foliage water content at 2°C. At 2°C foliage water content of FR plants decreased more rapidly than that of FS plants, similar to field results in the fall. During 6 wk, foliage water content of FR plants decreased 20 to 25% of the pre-treatment value, compared to only 5 to 10% by FS plants. Plant water uptake was about 60 g H2O·g FDW-1 by FS plants, while FR plants maintained plant water uptake in excess of 100 g H2O·g FDW-1 during the 6 wk period at 2°C. When four other northern genotypes of equal freeze resistance were studied, foliage water content and plant water uptake change were similar to FR plants. In these northern-selected HRWW cultivars foliage water content reduction resulting from cold acclimation is not due to impedance to plant water uptake.
Ear pests and damage to organic, conventional and Bt-protected sweet corn grown in central Kentucky.

Sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. rugosa) was grown in replicated plots in 2004 and 2006 using organic, conventional, and genetically-engineered (Bt) production practices. Organic plots were treated wit...
Climate Change and the International Court of Justice

This Report focuses on the international campaign, initiated by the Republic of Palau, to secure an advisory legal opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on climate change. Palau, with a growing coalition of nations, requests that the United Nations General Assembly seek an ICJ opinion on the question of state responsibility for transboundary harm caused by greenhouse gas emissions. The urgency of climate change, coupled with widespread frustration at the lack of binding international commitments secured through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change process, inspired the multistate coalition.The Report is the product of a course taught in Fall 2012 at Yale Law School in New Haven, Connecticut, by Ambassador Stuart Beck of the Permanent Mission of Palau to the United Nations; Aaron Korman, Palau’s Legal Adviser; and Douglas Kysar, Joseph M. Field '55 Professor of Law at Yale Law School. Eighteen graduate students enrolled at Yale Law School, the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and Yale University contributed to the final Report, which was compiled and edited by Halley Epstein, Yale Law School '14. The Report aims to outline the legal, political, and scientific justifications for the coalition’s request and why the ICJ should issue an opinion on the matter.Part I, The Brief, presents the advocacy components of a request for an advisory opinion from the ICJ. Drawing from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports and other sources, the Brief outlines the scientific evidence of climate change and its transboundary effects, with attention to the effects of a warming world on some of the most vulnerable nations — Palau included. After explaining how to frame the legal question presented to the ICJ, the Brief evaluates the proposed question in the context of prior ICJ advisory opinion requests and responses. Finally, the most authoritative sources of law are analyzed for their value as advocacy tools in this process.Part II, Background, offers an array of contextual and supporting materials. It introduces the Justices serving on the ICJ and provides insight into their international law experience, prior judicial decisions, and scholarship that might inform their approach to the climate change responsibility question. Next, the Report traces the principle of transboundary harm generally, in U.S. and European courts and across international agreements and conventions. Its analysis suggests that legal authorities support the application of the well-established principle of transboundary harm to the climate change context. The final Background section focuses on policy arguments likely to be persuasive to one of the campaign’s most strident opponents as a way of illustrating why all nations would stand to benefit from application of the rule of law to the climate change context.