cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the Kobayashi-Royden metric for ellipsoids

The Kobayashi indicatrix (infinitesimal unit ball) of a domain in IE n is known to be a biholomorphic invariant. In particular, if a domain is biholomorphic to a ball, then the indicatrix is the ball. Until the recent deep results of Lempert [4], it was not known to what extent the indicatrix characterizes the domain. Sibony had shown earlier that the indicatrix of any pseudoconvex circular domain is the domain itself [10]; hence the indicatrix determines such domains up to biholomorphism. This is not true in general. Lempert has shown that, for smoothly bounded strictly convex domains, three invariants determine the domain up to biholomorphism and a linear change of variables at a base point. These invariants consist of not only the Kobayashi indicatrix but also a quadratic form and a hermitian form on a certain vector bundle. In two dimensions, there is an open set in a Frechet space, corresponding to domains not biholomorphic to the ball but with indicatrix the ball. The result of this paper is that, for ellipsoids, if the Kobayashi indicatrix is the ball then the ellipsoid is biholomorphic to the ball. This is proved in the following equivalent form: if an ellipsoid symmetric about 0 is not biholomorphic to the ball, then its infinitesimal Kobayashi metric at 0 is not hermitian. In this language, our result answers a question posed by Reiffen in [7] about the differential-geometric nature of the Carath6odory metric for ellipsoids. By two results of Lempert ([3] and [2]), for strictly convex domains the Carathe6dory and Kobayashi metrics coincide and determine a Finsler metric. One now sees that, for ellipsoids, the metric is not hermitian and hence, by a theorem of Reiffen [7], not Riemannian. We prove that the infinitesimal Kobayashi metric at 0 is not hermitian by proving that the parallelogram law fails to hold. An ellipsoid ~ may be written (via a linear change of coordinates) as )-], ] zj] 2 ..~ ,~j Re (z 2) < , 0 < Aj < 1. By a
Pharmacological treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation in the older adult: evidence-based practice.

Purpose: To answer the clinical question: In adults over 65 years of age with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), do pharmacological rhythm-control agents offer a lower risk of stroke when compared to pharmacological rate-control agents? To address whether or not rhythm control improves quality of life compared to rate control was a secondary outcome question. Data sources: Comprehensive review of pharmacological treatment of AF on stroke and quality of life outcomes; a meta-analysis of five randomized controlled trials. Conclusions: Research suggests that all AF patients should continue anticoagulant therapy long term, even if they convert to sinus rhythm. Adequate rate control or rhythm control does not appear to reduce the need for lifelong antithrombotic therapy. Implications for practice: While an individualized treatment approach to AF is essential, a strong focus in the care of the older adult with AF should be on maintaining therapeutic International Normalized Ratio (INR) levels. Improved quality of life is more dependent on reducing thromboembolic events and subsequent sequelae of stroke.
Localization, mobility and fidelity of retrotransposed Group II introns in rRNA genes

We previously showed that the group II Lactococcus lactis Ll.LtrB intron could retrotranspose into ectopic locations on the genome of its native host. Two integration events, which had been mapped to unique sequences, were localized in the present study to separate copies of the six L.lactis 23S rRNA genes, within operon B or D. Although further movement within the bacterial chromosome was undetectable, the retrotransposed introns were able to re-integrate into their original homing site provided on a plasmid. This finding indicates not only that retrotransposed group II introns retain mobility properties, but also that movement occurs back into sequence that is heterologous to the sequence of the chromosomal location. Sequence analysis of the retrotransposed introns and the secondary mobility events back to the homing site showed that the introns retain sequence integrity. These results are illuminating, since the reverse transcriptase (RT) of the intron-encoded protein, LtrA, has no known proofreading function, yet the mobility events have a low error rate. Enzymatic digests were used to monitor sequence changes from the wild-type intron. The results indicate that retromobility events have approximately 10(-5) misincorporations per nucleotide inserted. In contrast to the high RT error rates for retroviruses that must escape host defenses, the infrequent mutations of group II introns would ensure intron spread through retention of sequences essential for mobility.
Rivastigmine, a brain-region selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitor for treating Alzheimer’s disease: review and current status

Alzheimer’s disease is, in part, characterised by the loss of neurones in the basal forebrain cholinergic cells that project to the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. These impairments have correlate...
Virtual embeddings on regular topology networks

The paper considers distributed processing over a switch-based LAN and addresses loss-free routing of non-reserved, bursty data traffic. The approach is based on embedding multiple virtual rings onto the underlying network topology with the following two constraints: (i) each virtual ring is Hamiltonian (i.e., includes each node exactly once), and (ii) rings are mutually edge disjoint. New techniques to obtain such virtual rings in the hypercube and circulant networks are presented. Each virtual ring may operate like a buffer insertion ring with fairness. The routing algorithm on the multiple virtual rings is a generalization of convergence routing and it ensures loss-free and deterministic delivery of bursty traffic. The bounds on the length of routing are studied both analytically and computationally. It is shown that an upper bound of O(N/d) on the maximum length of routing can be obtained on the networks with d virtual ring embeddings.
Simulating the Deployment of Battery-Sensing Intrusion Protection Systems

This paper extends Battery-Sensing Intrusion Protection System (B-SIPS) research by utilizing network simulations for deployment validation and optimization. The primary simulation goal is to ensure that B-SIPS does not negatively affect external applications in the network, as any drastic throughput degradation would severely lower the probability of successful B-SIPS deployments. The research goal is accomplished goal by modeling the Virginia Tech wireless-cum-wired network and simulating various network sizes, external network loads, and B-SIPS application transmission settings. This research demonstrates that under reasonable network loads the B-SIPS application had little to no effect on the throughput of external applications. Additionally, the 1 second default transmission rate for B-SIPS was determined to cause the least application degradation for external applications and ensured B-SIPS reports were successfully transmitted in a saturated network environment. Next, the detection capabilities of B-SIPS are examined by conducting Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and blended attacks against mobile devices. The ability of B-SIPS to detect multi-vector attacks provides application users with the ability to conserve battery charge life and retain device service significantly longer than devices undergoing similar attacks and not utilizing B-SIPS. The attacks used in this portion of the research should be applied to future network simulations of B-SIPS. These simulations will quantify network throughput and device battery usage in large scale network deployments that are, and are not, using B-SIPS.
Fecal Corticosteroid Levels in Free-living Populations of Deer Mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) and Southern Red-backed Voles (Clethrionomys gapperi)

Abstract Fecal corticosteroid levels were monitored in free-living populations of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) and southern red-backed voles (Clethrionomys gapperi) in North-Central Idaho. Sex, reproductive condition and age had no significant effect on fecal corticosteroid level in either species, but fecal corticosteroid levels were significantly higher in deer mice than red-backed voles regardless of sex or age. These data are consistent with the plasma corticosterone level profile exhibited by wild-caught individuals of both species maintained in captivity. In addition, for deer mice estimated population size was significantly correlated with fecal corticosteroid levels. Overall, these data clearly indicate the utility of fecal corticosteroid measures in assessing the adrenal status of wild populations of rodents.
Federal Land Records in State Repositories: The Experience in the Old Northwest

The state archives or historical societies in many public land states hold a group of federal records that document the disposing of the federal domain, the records of the local land district offices of the U.S. General Land Office. This article traces the custodial history of land district records for the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota from their creation in the nineteenth century to their availability and use today. Changes in federal records-disposal practices and varying responses by archivists and historical agencies produced very different results in the six states, particularly between the three states whose land offices closed in 1877 and the three that closed in 1925.
Directional Correlation of the Gamma Rays of Se 76

Directional correlation measurements have been made on the 0.65 Mev-0.55 Mev, 2.05 Mev-0.55 Mev, and 1.40 Mev-1.20 Mev gamma-ray cascades in ${\mathrm{Se}}^{76}$ following the beta decay of 26.8-hr ${\mathrm{As}}^{76}$. The energy levels of ${\mathrm{Se}}^{76}$ were found to have spins 0+, 2+, 2+, and 3+ in order of increasing energy. The 0.55- and 1.20-Mev gamma rays are pure electric quadrupole; the 0.65-Mev gamma ray almost pure electric quadrupole (1% dipole); the 1.40-Mev gamma ray pure magnetic dipole; and the 2.05-Mev gamma ray a mixture of 95% electric quadrupole and 5% magnetic dipole. A possible explanation of the decay scheme in terms of vibrational levels is presented.
Double-Tunnel Pectoral Cineplasty

The construction of two muscle tunnels in a pectoralis major muscle and use of a specially constructed two-pin cineplasty prosthesis in a patient are recorded. The advantages of the mechanical device are described and the reasons for failure of the tunnels to function are discussed. The probability of increased function by linking together two tunnels, one in each pectoralis major muscle, is suggested.
A New Derivation of Discrete Ordinate Approximations

It is shown that the idea of space-angle synthesis may be used to provide a new framework for the derivation of discrete ordinate methods. It is also shown that within this framework one can cleanl...
Anomalous High Mobility in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 Nanowires

Nanoscale control of the metal-insulator transition at the interface between LaAlO(3) and SrTiO(3) provides a pathway for reconfigurable, oxide-based nanoelectronics. Four-terminal transport measurements of LaAlO(3)/SrTiO(3) nanowires at room temperature (T = 300 K) reveal an equivalent 2D Hall mobility greatly surpassing that of bulk SrTiO(3) and approaching that of n-type Si nanowires of comparable dimensions. This large enhancement of mobility is relevant for room-temperature device applications.
Fast Compartmental Monte Carlo Simulation of Population Balance Models: Application to Nanoparticle Formation in Nonhomogeneous Conditions

A new compartmental Monte Carlo (CMC) algorithm is introduced for the stochastic simulation of population balance models in spatially heterogeneous systems. The heterogeneities are modeled using a network of compartments. The algorithm is based on a new stochastic procedure called particle bundle flow (PBF) to model the stochastic transfer of particles between compartments in a given time interval (a time-driven algorithm). Different from other time-driven methods, the accuracy of the PBF is independent of the particle concentration. The validity of the PBF method is demonstrated by construction and confirmed with numerical experiments. A new strategy for time step control is developed to set bounds on the calculation of the time steps during the simulation. The CMC algorithm, based on the combination of the PBF algorithm with the τ point ensemble Monte Carlo algorithm, is a general-purpose methodology that can be applied to any network of compartments. The computational speed and the low computational lo...
SPECTROMETRIC CHARACTERIZATION OF THE REACTION ZONE IN AN UNSTABLE LIQUID FUELED COMBUSTOR

This paper describes an experimental investigation of suppressing combustion instabilities using a smart fuel injector in a liquid fueled (n-heptane and jet-A) combustor. The main objective of this study was to demonstrate that by varying the fuel spray characteristics it is possible to change the characteristics of the combustion process, thereby decoupling the combustion heat release and combustor pressure oscillations and preventing combustion instabilities. Spectrometric methods for characterizing the combustion process are developed and compared for both heptane and jet-A fuels; these methods are then used to correlate properties of the combustion process with instabilities in the combustor. The "smart" fuel injector used in this study consisted of a double-staged, air-assist atomizer. Counter swirling, primary (inner stage) and secondary (outer stage) air streams were supplied to the injector through separate sets of tangentially oriented orifices. To atomize the fuel, the primary air flow was injected next to the exit of the fuel nozzle where it impinged upon the injected fuel jet. The secondary air flow was injected into an annular, external volume, downstream of the fuel injection point where it further atomized the fuel. The combustion process was stabilized downstream of the secondary air injection point. This study shows that the ratio of the primary to secondary swirling air flow rates (K) strongly affects the fuel spray properties, flow field and, thus, combustion instabilities. At relatively low values of K, the instability frequency and amplitude strongly depends upon the equivalence ratio and a toroidal recirculation zone is stabilized near the wall at the combustor inlet. This zone extends further downstream as K increases. For relatively high values of K, the recirculation zone develops along the centerline and the RMS pressure amplitude remains nearly constant at about 6% of the combustor's mean pressure over the entire range of investigated equivalence ratios. The results of this study demonstrate the usefulness of the spectrometric methods for characterizing the combustion process and strongly suggest that "smart" fuel injectors could be used to prevent the onset of detrimental combustion instabilities in real engines.
Statutory Exceptions at British Law: Implications for the Appellate Jurisdiction of the United States Supreme Court

This article revisits the literature on Congress’s ability to control the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. It finds evidence that the well-known references in Article III to “exceptions” and “regulations” were legal terms of art in pre-1789 British law. An examination of the case law demonstrates that English and Scottish supreme courts always retained a certain quantum of supervisory jurisdiction over inferior courts, even when Parliament made an “exception” or “exemption” (a synonymous term) to the supreme court’s appellate jurisdiction. This quantum of supervisory jurisdiction extended not only to the power to enforce adherence to the supreme court’s prior precedents, but also to the power to resolve differences of opinions among courts as to statutory interpretations (something we often now encounter in the context of “circuit splits”) and to correct obvious misinterpretations of the law and fundamental denials of due process rights.
Codifying Common Law: The Self-Critical Analysis Privilege and the New Jersey Patient Safety Act

In 2004, New Jersey enacted the Patient Safety Act (“the PSA” or “the Act”), requiring hospitals to engage in the “comprehensive reporting of adverse patient events, systematic analysis of their causes, and creation of solutions.” The Act was grounded in the belief that fostering “a non-punitive culture that focuses on improving processes rather than assigning blame” was crucial in promoting disclosure and reporting. As such, it provided that materials developed from a process of “self-critical analysis” not be discoverable nor used as evidence in any subsequent trial or proceeding.
46 CAN THE RIGHT SUBCLAVIAN VEIN BE USED AS A SURROGATE OF THE INFERIOR VENA CAVA AS AN INDICATOR OF SYSTEMIC VENOUS CONGESTION?: Table

Background The respiratory variation (RV) in inferior vena cava (IVC) caliber is routinely evaluated on echo for assessment of systemic venous congestion. In obese patients or in those who have recently undergone abdominal or thoracic surgery, IVC visualization can be difficult. We assessed whether RV in the right subclavian vein (RSV) caliber can serve as a surrogate for the RV in the IVC and whether the correlation would be better with the imaging performed in supine position or at a 458 reclining position. Methods In 40 patients, IVC long axis echocardiograms were recorded for 10 beats with patient breathing normally. M-mode recordings were made of the IVC segment 2 to 4 cm inferior to the entry of the IVC into the right atrium, and the minimum (MIN) and maximum (MAX) IVC diameters were obtained. RSV was visualized from the right supraclavicular region. Two-dimensional recordings were made over 10 beats during normal quiet respiration in the supine and in the 458 reclining position; MIN and MAX diameters were obtained and ratio calculated. Correlation between ratio of the MIN to MAX IVC caliber and ratio of RSV MIN to MAX caliber was tested by statistical analysis. Results The mean ratio of respiratory variation of IVC caliber was different from the mean ratio of the respiratory variation in the RSV in the supine position but not from the mean ratio of the respiratory caliber variation in the RSV at 458 position. Using the paired t-test, the IVC respiratory variation correlated better with the RSV respiratory variation in the 458 reclining position. Conclusions Respiratory variation in RSV caliber at 458 correlates well with the IVC respiratory variation and can be used for noninvasive assessment of systemic venous congestion if the IVC cannot be visualized well due to obesity, recent surgery, or other reasons.
Lower Esophageal Sphincter Dysfunction in Achalasia

In patients with achalasia, lower esophageal sphincter (LES) dysfunction plays an important role in the impairment of esophageal emptying. To evaluate this dysfunction, the manometric characteristics of the LES were recorded for 20 normals and for 16 patients with achalasia, both before and after pneumatic dilation. Before dilation, patients with achalasia have two abnormalities in LES function: (1) LES pressure at rest is twice that recorded in normals; and (2) the LES does not relax to the level of gastric pressure during swallowing. Therefore, a residual LES pressure is always present in patients with achalasia. Following clinically successful pneumatic dilation, the resting LES pressure is significantly reduced, but, as before dilation, the LES does not relax completely upon swallowing. The residual pressure at the LES in patients with achalasia is therefore a function of the resting LES pressure at which swallowing is initiated. Accordingly, the clinical status of each patient with achalasia is related inversely to the level of LES pressure. In normals, the LES relaxation always approximates the level of gastric pressure. Thus, a significant residual pressure never exists. This study suggests that the residual pressure at the LES, present only in patients with achalasia, results in an obstruction to esophageal emptying. The magnitude of this obstruction is a direct function of resting LES pressure.
Umbilical cord blood transplantation: overview of the clinical experience.

In an attempt to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, clinical investigators in Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America have evaluated umbilical cord and placental blood as an alternate source of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells for transplantation. To date, umbilical cord blood has been used to reconstitute hematopoiesis in 34 patients with a variety of malignant and nonmalignant diseases treated with myeloablative therapy. Although the median number of nucleated cells infused was only 4.0 x 10(7)/kg of the recipient's body weight (range, 0.1-33.0 x 10(7)), the median time to hematopoietic recovery was 25.0 days for neutrophils (i.e., absolute neutrophil count > 500/microL, range, 12-46) and 43.5 days for platelets (i.e., absolute platelet count > 50,000/microL, range: 15-105+). Except in three patients who failed to demonstrate any evidence of hematopoietic recovery and one patient who had prompt autologous recovery, engraftment of donor cells was documented in all patients, including recipients of HLA-mismatched grafts. Of 23 evaluable patients with HLA-identical or HLA-1 antigen-mismatched donors, none had grade 2-4 acute graft vs. host disease (GVHD). In summary, these data suggest that umbilical cord blood is an acceptable source of transplantable hematopoietic stem cells, at least in recipients < 40 kg and that the risk of acute GVHD is low.
Blind separation of convolved sources based on information maximization

Blind separation of independent sources from their convolutive mixtures is a problem in many real world multi-sensor applications. In this paper we present a solution to this problem based on the information maximization principle, which was proposed by Bell and Sejnowski (1995) for the case of blind separation of instantaneous mixtures. We present a feedback network architecture capable of coping with convolutive mixtures, and we derive the adaptation equations for the adaptive filters in the network by maximizing the information transferred through the network. Examples using speech signals are presented to illustrate the algorithm.
Computing and the affective domain: learning to love (and persist) in computer science

Academic computer science is challenging -- so much so that many times students do not persevere even when they possess the academic ability to be successful. Given the demand in the market for individuals who possess these skills, losing able students is a significant problem. Building experiences into the computing curriculum which address the affective domain can improve retention and perseverance in the major. This paper describes the positive results that occur when first-year computing majors complete a multi-phase project incorporating affective domain learning.
Molecular ligand modulation of palladium nanocatalysts for highly efficient and robust heterogeneous oxidation of cyclohexenone to phenol

Metallic nanoparticles are emerging as an exciting class of heterogeneous catalysts with the potential advantages of exceptional activity, stability, recyclability, and easier separation than homogeneous catalysts. The traditional colloid nanoparticle syntheses usually involve strong surface binding ligands that could passivate the surface active sites and result in poor catalytic activity. The subsequent removal of surface ligands could reactivate the surface but often leads to metal ion leaching and/or severe Ostwald ripening with diminished catalytic activity or poor stability. Molecular ligand engineering represents a powerful strategy for the design of homogeneous molecular catalysts but is insufficiently explored for nanoparticle catalysts to date. We report a systematic investigation on molecular ligand modulation of palladium (Pd) nanoparticle catalysts. Our studies show that β-functional groups of butyric acid ligand on Pd nanoparticles can significantly modulate the catalytic reaction process to modify the catalytic activity and stability for important aerobic reactions. With a β-hydroxybutyric acid ligand, the Pd nanoparticle catalysts exhibit exceptional catalytic activity and stability with an unsaturated turnover number (TON) >3000 for dehydrogenative oxidation of cyclohexenone to phenol, greatly exceeding that of homogeneous Pd(II) catalysts (TON, ~30). This study presents a systematic investigation of molecular ligand modulation of nanoparticle catalysts and could open up a new pathway toward the design and construction of highly efficient and robust heterogeneous catalysts through molecular ligand engineering.
Insurance design in the presence of safety nets

Abstract Safety net assistance and insurance exist to manage risk and improve welfare. This shared goal may lead to crowding out. In a new approach, this paper analyzes the interaction of assistance with two dimensions of insurance design: level of coverage and types of risks covered. In a society of risk averse vulnerable individuals and risk neutral assistance providers, Pareto improvements in welfare are achieved through incompleteness in the types of risks covered. The results imply that safety nets promote demand for and the emergence of incomplete insurance. These results have a wide application to insurance markets where safety nets are available, including health care, disaster aid and social welfare.
Is Decompressive Surgery for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Effective in Patients Suffering from Concomitant Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinson’s Disease?

A subset of patients with a demyelinating disease suffer from concurrent cervical spondylotic myelopathy, both of which evince similar symptomatology. Differentiating the cause of these symptoms is challenging, and little research has been done on patients with coexisting diseases. This review explores the current literature on the appropriate surgical management of patients with concurrent multiple sclerosis (MS) and cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), and those with both Parkinson's disease (PD) and CSM. MS and CSM patients may benefit from surgery to reduce pain and radiculopathy. Surgical management in PD and CSM patients has shown minimal quality-of-life improvement. Future studies are needed to better characterize demyelinating disease patients with concurrent disease and to determine ideal medical or surgical treatment.
Restoring Volar Tilt in AO Type C2 Fractures of the Distal Radius With Unilateral External Fixation

Purpose To determine whether unilateral external fixation using a staged multiplanar reduction technique restores anatomic volar tilt in a distal radius fracture model. Methods We used radiographic images to obtain baseline measurements in 20 fresh-frozen cadaveric wrists. Through a standard dorsal approach to the radius, we performed osteotomies to simulate displaced AO/ASIF type C2 fractures. After placement of a unilateral external fixator, a stepwise technique of applying longitudinal traction followed by a volar translational maneuver was performed. Radiographic imaging was obtained after each step of the multiplanar reduction technique. Results Standard longitudinal traction did not restore volar tilt angles to their baseline measurements. The addition of a volar translation maneuver had a significant effect on restoring baseline volar tilt. There was a statistically significant difference in volar tilt measurements between straight longitudinal traction and volar translation. Radial inclination, radial height, and ulnar variance did not differ significantly between longitudinal traction and the addition of volar translation. Conclusions A criticism of traditional external fixation is the inability of longitudinal ligamentotaxis to attain sagittal plane (volar tilt) reduction of the articular surface. This study demonstrates that a multiplanar reduction technique using unilateral external fixation devices on cadaveric distal radius fractures can achieve an acceptable reduction. Clinical relevance External fixation of distal radius fractures may be favorable in situations where soft tissue loss, wound contamination, and comorbid medical factors preclude the use of internal fixation techniques. A multiplanar reduction technique using a unilateral external fixation device may facilitate fracture reduction in acceptable alignment.
Opening Address: President of IMU

It is a great pleasure for me to have the opportunity to address you, during this opening ceremony for the 12th International Congress on Mathematical Education, in my capacity as President of the International Mathematical Union, or IMU.
Spontaneous Regression of a Retroodontoid Transverse Ligament Cyst: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE Transverse ligament cysts (TLC) are rare, surgically complex lesions arising posterior to the odontoid process of C2. Direct compression of the cervicomedullary junction is a devastating consequence of untreated lesions. We report the first case of spontaneous TLC regression without surgical intervention. CLINICAL PRESENTATION A 75-yr-old woman presented to an outside hospital with acute episodes of left face and upper extremity numbness. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a well-circumscribed 5.8 mm cystic mass at the atlantoaxial junction, posterior to the odontoid process, most consistent with a TLC. She presented to our institution 1 yr later with symptoms of progressive occipital neuralgia seeking surgical treatment. No evidence of cervical myelopathy was identified on clinical examination. Repeat MRI showed near doubling of the cyst, with no brainstem edema. The patient elected for surveillance of the cyst with a transforaminal steroid injection at C1-C2 for her occipital neuralgia. One year later, symptoms of occipital neuralgia had resolved and she remained neurologically intact; MRI of the cervical spine showed near complete involution of the cyst. CONCLUSION Symptomatic TLCs are often managed with surgical decompression and, in selected cases, fusion with good functional outcome. However, these interventions carry high risk of postoperative morbidity, particularly in the elderly. Conservative surveillance is rarely reported as a viable option. We present the first case of spontaneous TLC regression in the absence surgery or neck bracing. In select patients without acute myelopathy, clinical and radiographic surveillance may be considered for the management of TLCs.
Foam generation, characterization and breakup in pipes

Abstract Experiments were conducted utilizing a 0.025 m diameter Foam Characterization Rig (FCR) skid. Aqueous foam was used in the experimental program, utilizing both Drill Foam F-450 and SI-403 surfactants to generate the foam. Foam generation and characterization experiments were conducted with different foam generation devices, with the aim of identifying the optimal configuration, which generates the most stable foam. A comparison between the foam quality and inlet gas volume fraction (IGVF) demonstrates that these variables are close to each other at 90% IGVF (vsg = 0.09 m/s) owing to the occurrence of homogenous flow for this condition. The data also confirm that the foam generation configuration with two 125 μm mesh size and 3 mm beads generates the most stable foam. Three different flow patterns were observed in the pipe, namely, stratified, dispersed and slug flow, exhibiting different foam quality. Foam flow in pipes experiments revealed that the gas shear effect on foam break-up depends on the existing flow pattern in the pipe. For stratified wavy flow, increasing the superficial gas velocity can lead to either increasing or decreasing foam breakup efficiency, which depends on the gas velocity. On the other hand, in slug flow, generally increasing the superficial gas velocity results in slightly decrease in the foam breakup efficiency.
The Problem of Bays in the Law of the Sea

The late Professor Brierly wrote: The line from which territorial waters1 are measured ceases to follow the sinuosities of the coast when it reaches a bay or other indentation in the coast, both shores of which belong to the same state, and it crosses the waters of the bay from shore to shore. So much is generally admitted, but two important questions remain: (i) what is the character of the waters on the landward side of this imaginary line drawn across the bay? and (ii) where is the line to be drawn?2
Low Temperature Electrical Resistance of Fifteen Commercial Conductors

The electrical resistance of fifteen commercial conductors was measured at low temperatures for use in cryogenic instrumentation design.
Interaction of Two Suspended Particles

The motion of a single sphere in a fluid under creeping flow conditions is reviewed. The motion of the two interacting spheres subject to gravity is then described using two-sphere mobility functions. The method of reflections is used to determine the mobility functions for widely separated spheres, and lubrication theory is used to describe the relative motion of two spheres in near contact.
An automatic micro slide projector and procedures for staining and cleaning large numbers of slides.

There is described an automatic micro slide projector with which blood smears can be examined at a magnification of 430 x at a rate more than 3 times greater than that possible with a microscope. A procedure is described by means of which 320 blood smears can be stained in 6 minutes. There is described, also, a convenient method for cleaning and handling large numbers of slides.
Development and validation of an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry method for analyzing microbial-derived grape polyphenol metabolites.

Abstract Accumulating evidence indicates that the health impact of dietary phenolic compounds, including the principal grape-derived polyphenols, (+)‑catechin and (−)‑epicatechin, is exerted by not only the parent compounds but also their phenolic metabolites generated by the gut microbiota. In this work, a new high-throughput, sensitive and reproducible analytical method was developed employing ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS) for the simultaneous analysis of 16 microbial-generated phenolic acid metabolites (PAMs) along with their precursors, catechin and epicatechin. Following optimizing the solvent system, LC conditions and MS parameters, method validation was carried out to evaluate the sensitivity, selectivity, accuracy and precision of the proposed method, and to ensure promising recovery of all analytes extracted from the matrix prior to bioanalysis. Results showed that the optimized analytical method allowed successful confirmation and quantitation of all analytes under dynamic multiple reaction monitoring mode using trans‑cinnamic acid‑d7 as an internal standard (I.S.). Excellent sensitivity and linearity were obtained for all analytes, with lower limits of detection (LLODs) and lower limits of quantification (LLOQs) in the ranges of 0.225–2.053 ng/mL and 0.698–8.116 ng/mL, respectively. By examining blank matrix spiked with standard mixture at different concentration levels, promising recoveries at two spiking levels (low level, 91.2–115%; high level 90.2–121%), and excellent precision (RSD
Pulsed laser-scanning laser Doppler vibrometer (PL-SLDV) phased arrays for damage detection in aluminum plates

Abstract Lamb wave phased arrays employ sensors placed close to each other in compact distributions and can quickly inspect large plate-like structures through time (or phase) delays in the way analogous to radar. Traditional Lamb wave phased arrays usually adopt large-size ultrasonic transducers bonded on (or placed close to the surface of) a structure, and hence they limit the array configurability and cannot perform inspection from a far distance to the structure. This paper presents Lamb wave phased arrays implemented with a fully noncontact pulsed laser – scanning laser Doppler vibrometer (PL-SLDV) system, which employs a PL for exciting Lamb waves at a single PL spot through the thermoelastic effect and an SLDV for acquiring signals of Lamb waves at multiple scanning points based on the Doppler effect, respectively. The fully noncontact PL-SLDV phased arrays enable inspection from a far distance, as well as easily constructible receiver phased arrays in various configurations due to the use of high-resolution scanning laser. To generate inspection images with the acquired signals of Lamb waves, an improved delay-and-sum (DAS) imaging algorithm for receiver phased arrays is developed, where the exact Lamb wave frequency-wavenumber dispersion relation is considered for both the phase delay and back-propagation phase. This improved DAS imaging algorithm addresses the dispersion effect and results in higher radial imaging resolution, compared to the conventional DAS imaging algorithm. In addition, adaptive weighting factors are implemented to improve the angular imaging resolution. Proof-of-concept experiments demonstrate that multiple simulated defects of different sizes as well as broadside and offside simulated cracks can be successfully detected using a PL-SLDV phased array with a high-dispersion A0 mode. The experimental study also shows that the improved DAS imaging algorithm can achieve high radial and angular imaging resolution.
Combination of Traditional and Deep Learning based Architectures to Overcome Class Imbalance and its Application to Malware Classification

Classifying malware programs is useful to improve our understanding of their malicious features. Several studies that use pattern recognition, machine learning, and deep learning based algorithms have been proposed in this area. However, class imbalance remains a challenge to these learning algorithms. In this paper, we hybridize existing ones to effectively overcome that challenge. We propose an architecture that uses 1) a novel feature extraction technique followed by non-parametric classification method for cases with limited data and 2) a deep learning-based grouping algorithm for cases with sufficient data thereby creating a new effective approach for classifying imbalanced data. We make use of the publicly available database (originally provided for the Microsoft Malware Classification Challenge BIG2015) to evaluate the proposed approach. More specifically, we show that for the case where there are very few exemplars, our approach yields improved results over an existing state of the art system (existing benchmark).
Novel compounds that reverse the disease phenotype in Type 2 Gaucher disease patient-derived cells.

Abstract Gaucher disease (GD) results from inherited mutations in the lysosomal enzyme β-glucocerobrosidase (GCase). Currently available treatment options for Type 1 GD are not efficacious for treating neuronopathic Type 2 and 3 GD due to their inability to cross the blood-brain barrier. In an effort to identify small molecules which could be optimized for CNS penetration we identified tamoxifen from a high throughput phenotypic screen on Type 2 GD patient-derived fibroblasts which reversed the disease phenotype. Structure activity studies around this scaffold led to novel molecules that displayed improved potency, efficacy and reduced estrogenic/antiestrogenic activity compared to the original hits. Here we present the design, synthesis and structure activity relationships that led to the lead molecule Compound 31.
Vehicle-to-grid power system services with electric and plug-in vehicles based on flexibility in unidirectional charging

With proper power scheduling and dynamic pricing, a unidirectional charger can provide benefits and regulation services to the electricity grid, at a level approaching that of bidirectional charging. Power scheduling and schedule flexibility of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are addressed. The use of electric vehicles (EVs) as flexibility resources and associated unidirectional vehicle-to-grid benefits are investigated. Power can be scheduled with the EV charger in control of charging or via control by a utility or an aggregator. Charging cost functions suitable for charger- and utility-controlled power scheduling are presented. Ancillary service levels possible with unidirectional vehicle-to-grid are quantified using sample charging scenarios from published data. Impacts of various power schedules and vehicle participation as a flexibility resource on electricity locational prices are evaluated. These include benefits to both owners and load-serving entities. Frequency regulation is considered in the context of unidirectional charging.
Displaced Girlhood: Gendered Dimensions of Coping and Social Change among Conflict- Affected South Sudanese Youth

As wartime inhabitants, female children have often been presented as paradigmatic non-agents, victims of a toxic mixture of violent circumstances and oppressive cultural practices. Child- and gender-sensitive approaches, on the other hand, have embraced a more balanced recognition of displaced girls’ active, if often constrained, efforts to cope with adverse circumstances. In South Sudan, a young country mired in unresolved conflict and forced displacement, girls must navigate multiple and complex challenges. Drawing on fieldwork conducted among South Sudanese refugees in Uganda and returnees in South Sudan, I examine ways in which gender shapes local realities of conflict, displacement, return, and reintegration, focusing on the often-overlooked experiences of girls and female youth. Study findings evidence displaced girls’ remarkable determination and resourcefulness as they struggle to overcome a persistently turbulent climate of social instability, deprivation, and conflict. En temps de guerre, les filles sont souvent presentees comme non-agents paradigmatiques, victimes d’un melange toxique de circonstances violentes et de pratiques culturelles oppressives. D’autre part, des approches adaptees au genre et a l’enfant font place a une reconnaissance plus equilibree des efforts energiques, quoique souvent limites, deployes par les filles deplacees pour surmonter des circonstances defavorables. Au Sud-Soudan, un jeune pays aux prises avec des conflits non resolus et des deplacements forces, les filles doivent affronter de multiples et complexes defis. S’appuyant sur des recherches sur le terrain menees aupres de refugies sud-soudanais en Ouganda et de rapatries au Sud-Soudan, l’auteur examine comment le genre faconne les realites locales du conflit, du deplacement, du retour et de la reintegration en se concentrant sur les experien- ces souvent negligees des filles et des jeunes femmes. Les resultats de l’etude montrent la determination et l’originalite remarquables des filles deplacees qui luttent pour surmonter un environnement toujours turbulent d’instabilite sociale, de privation et de conflit.
RamGen: Moving Memories from Physical to the Logical Domain

We present RamGen, our flow to automate front end memory generation in an SRAM vendor agnostic fashion. RamGen is part of an ecosystem which allows rapid prototyping of SRAM memories in any custom silicon (ASICs / GPUs / CPUs) workflows. It allows changes in specifications (size, timing, routing, vendor constraints) to be accounted for, without impacting front-end design and verification workflows. Enables designs with high-level memory specifications to be portable across several fabrication nodes and vendors.
Buckled honeycomb antimony: Higher order topological insulator and its relation to the Kekulé lattice

Higher order topological tnsulators are $d$-spatial dimensional systems featuring topologically protected gapless states at their $(d\ensuremath{-}n)$-dimensional boundaries. With the help of ab initio calculations and tight-binding models along with symmetry considerations, we show that monolayer buckled honeycomb structures of group-V elements (Sb, As), which have already been synthesized, belong in this category and have a spinless charge fractionalization of $\frac{e}{2}$ at the corner states as well as weak topological edge states, protected by the ${S}_{6}$ symmetry operation, which classify this system as a quadrupole topological insulator. The robustness of these edge and corner states to perturbations is explicitly demonstrated.
Ancient aquaculture and the rise of social complexity

The abilities of humans to produce and store food have been key components in theories that explain how and why societies flourished and developed complex socioeconomic systems over time. Archaeological evidence shows that the transition from hunting/gathering/foraging to the purposeful cultivation of plants and domestication of animals was an important turning point for humans on a global scale. These processes led to significant changes in how societies organized labor, managed resources, and affected environments. There has been increased recognition, however, that large population densities and the rise of social complexity would not have necessarily required agriculture, as Thompson et al. (1) demonstrate in their PNAS paper on the Calusa polity in southwest Florida. In some coastal areas here and elsewhere, peoples focused instead on mass harvesting and live storage of marine species to build surpluses and fuel economic specialization. In the not-so-distant past, scholars argued that coastal regions were unattractive places for humans to live compared to interior regions with abundant floral and faunal resources (2). These were big game-centric models that privileged men as hunters, with the seacoast envisaged as being resource poor, patchy, and generally insufficient for larger human populations to live. Decades of archaeological research have now changed this perspective, with many acknowledging that marine foods were often more nutritious, plentiful, and easier to procure than once believed (3⇓⇓–6). As part of living in these environments, peoples who settled islands and coastal regions around the world developed sophisticated technologies for fishing, hunting animals (e.g., whales, pinnipeds, birds), and storing foodstuffs. They were so successful, in fact, that populations grew considerably and expanded into some of the most remote places on Earth such as Hawaii, Easter Island, and New Zealand. Many of these and other maritime-oriented cultures developed in very complex ways (7 … [↵][1]1Email: smfitzpa{at}uoregon.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Alternatives to Investor-State Dispute Settlement

Proponents often explain support for international investment agreements (IIAs) for their ability to: (1) promote investment flows; (2) depoliticize disputes between investors and states; (3) promote the rule of law; and (4) provide compensation for certain harms to investors – objectives of varying degrees of importance to multinational enterprises, home states, host states, and other stakeholders. While each of these objectives may seem desirable, it is important to consider what exactly they mean and whether IIAs are optimally tailored to achieve them. This two-part series aims to consider just that. In the first blog installment, we asked of investor-state dispute settlement: What Are We Trying to Achieve? Does ISDS Get Us There? To follow up, in this Working Paper we’ve considered a number of alternative tools that, when used alone or in combination, might better serve the above objectives as well as the goals of sustainable development more generally.