Understanding and Controlling Dynamically-Induced Stochastic Domain Wall Behaviours in Magnetic Nanowires

Stochastic pinning of domain walls (DWs) in Permalloy (Py) nanowires is a significant challenge that needs to be overcome to produce reliable magnetic nanowire-based devices for memory/logic applications. In this study, stochastic interactions of vortex DWs (VDWs) with intrinsic defects and artificial notch-shaped defects have been studied with the aim of understanding their complexity and proposing methods to control them. VDW pinning/depinning behaviour in double and single notches showed complex behaviour in real measurements when compared with quasi-static simulations. Systematic study was performed on VDW interactions with double and single notches with a range of depths and nanowires’ thicknesses. Results showed that multi-mode stochastic pinning/depinning behaviour occurred for the vast majority of systems. However, for large single notches in thick nanowires (t=40nm), single-mode depinning-field-distributions were observed. It was shown that convergence to single depinning-mode was due to the nature of Walkerbreakdown transformations that preserve the vortex shape of VDWs, and to the specifics of DWs interaction with notch and edge roughness. The dependence of stochastic pinning/depinning behaviours on DW injection processes was also studied. It was found that DWs injected into nanowires using pulses through orthogonal current-line nucleation exhibited more deterministic pinning/depinning behaviour than those injected from nucleation pads. This may be attributed to the process by which DWs depin from the nucleation pad junction. Additionally, it is shown that pinning/depinning stochasticity can be mitigated by passing VDWs through sharp bends that act as chirality rectifiers. For certain nanowire/notch geometries, this reduces the number of accessible pinned DW configurations to a single configuration; thus, producing a single-mode depinningfield- distribution. Finally, micromagnetic simulations are used to demonstrate feasibility of DW logic architecture where bits are encoded using VDW chirality. Designs are proposed for NAND, AND, NOR, OR and FAN-OUT gates. All gates work by manipulating the interaction of VDWs with Y-shaped junctions and/or notches

Can Noncompliant Behavior Explain Racial/Ethnic Disparities in The Use of Force by The NYPD? An Econometric Analysis of New York\u27s Stop-and-Frisk

This paper seeks to analyze spatiotemporal variations in NYPD policing patterns in an attempt to identify the causal mechanism(s) driving the observed racial/ethnic disparities; specifically, it addresses questions of how changing neighborhood demographics influence the decision-making of NYPD officers/precincts as it relates to their controversial Stop-and-Frisk policy

Dental anxiety among university students and its correlation with their field of study

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the subjective ratings of dental anxiety levels among university students enrolled at Jordan University of Science and Technology. In addition, the present study aimed to explore the sources of dental anxiety and the impact of gender on the perceived dental anxiety and the correlation between field of study and dental anxiety level. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Modified Corah Dental Anxiety Scale was used to measure dental anxiety among the study population. Six hundred subjects were recruited into the study from Jordanian undergraduate students from the faculties of Medicine, Engineering, and Dentistry. RESULTS: Five hundred and thirty five complete questionnaires were returned, which accounts for a response rate of 89.2%. The totals of the mean anxiety scores were the following: Medical students, 13.58%; Engineering students, 13.27% and dental students, 11.22%. About 32% of the study population has scored 15 or more. Dental students had the lowest percentage of those who scored 15 or more. Surprisingly, the medical students were responsible for the highest percentage of those who scored 15 or above. Although women demonstrated statistically higher total dental anxiety scores than men (p= 0.03), the difference between both genders was small and could be clinically insignificant. The students were anxious mostly about tooth drilling and local anesthetic injection. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of adequate dental health education may result in a high level of dental anxiety among non-dental university students in Jordan. Further studies are required to identify the correlates of dental anxiety among university students

Accelerating the Usage of Earth and Oceans Observation Data in Hydrographic Applications

Accessing accurate, up-to-date data to support chart production in Canada’s vast and complex waterways can be challenging. In order to improve efficiency in charting these navigable waters, The Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) has developed new techniques that leverage Satellite Based Earth Observation (EO) data. The main applications developed by CHS include: Satellite Derived Bathymetry (SDB), intertidal zone mapping, extraction of accurate coastlines, change detection/rate of change of coastal features and virtual tidal gauges. The results obtained demonstrate that EO data is a reliable source of Hydrospatial information that can meet the CHS and International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) charting requirements.El acceso a datos precisos y actualizados para apoyar la producción de cartas delas vastas y complejas vías fluviales de Canadá puede ser un desafío. Para mejorar la eficacia al cartografiar estas aguas navegables, el Servicio Hidrográfico Canadiense (CHS) ha desarrollado nuevas técnicas que utilizan datos de la Observación de la Tierra (EO) por satélite. Las principales aplicaciones desarrolladas por el CHS incluyen: Batimetría satelital (SDB), cartografía de zonas inter-mareales, extracción de líneas de costa precisas, detección de cambios/nivel de cambios de características costeras y mareógrafos virtuales. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran que los datos de OE son una fuente fidedigna de información hidroespacial que puede cumplir los costeras y mareógrafos virtuales. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran que los datos de OE son una fuente fidedigna de información hidroespacial que puede cumplir los requisitos cartográficos del CHS y de la Organización Hidrográfica Internacional (OHI).Accéder à des données exactes et à jour en vue de soutenir la production de cartes dans les vastes et complexes voies navigables du Canada peut représenter un défi. Afin d’améliorer l’efficacité dans la cartographie de ces eaux navigables, le Service hydrographique canadien (SHC) a développé de nouvelles techniques qui exploitent les données d’observation de la Terre (EO) par satellite. Les principales applications développées par le SHC comprennent : la bathymétrie par satellite (SDB), la cartographie de la zone intertidale, l’extraction de lignes de côte précises, la détection des changements/le taux de changement des caractéristiques côtières et les marégraphes virtuels. Les résultats obtenus montrent que les données EO sont une source fiable d’informations hydrospatiales qui peuvent répondre aux exigences en matière de cartographie du SHC et de l’Organisation hydrographique internationale (OHI)

Modeling Through Traffic Speed at Roundabouts Along Urban and Suburban Street Arterials

A total of 30 roundabouts with different dimensions and characteristics were selected from three cities in Jordan. The collected data included the approaching road free flow speed (FFS), area type, entry width, circulating roadway width, exit width, roundabout internal and external circle diameters, circulating roadway super elevation, entry deviation angle, and drive curve. The regression analysis showed that the entry width, internal circulating diameter, entry deviation angle, approaching FFS, and drive curve were significant in determining the average and 85th percentile roundabout circulating speed. The developed model was compared with other international models developed in the United States and Italy

Patients’ and Nurses’ Perceptions of Post-Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Learning Needs in Two Omani Hospitals

ABSTRACT: Objectives: Little is known about nurses’ and patients’ perceptions of learning needs following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in Oman. This study aimed to identify patients' and nurses' perceptions of post-CABG learning needs. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in two cardiac units in Oman between February and April 2018. Participants were from step-down units and perceptions of post-CABG learning needs were collected using a modified version of the Cardiac Patients Learning Need Inventory (MCPLNI) questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: A total of 90 patients and 90 nurses were included in this study (response rate: 100%). Nurses perceived information about chest and leg wound care, medications and complications as patients’ most important learning needs (4.89 ± 0.31, 4.84 ± 0.33 and 4.78 ± 0.45, respectively). Similarly, patients perceived a need for post-CABG learning related to chest and leg wound care, complications and medication, while learning related to physical activity received a moderate priority (4.92 ± 0.20, 4.80 ± 0.45, 4.85 ± 0.26 and 3.50 ± 1.34, respectively). Conclusion: Before discharging patients, they should be provided with specific information related to post-CABG care. It is essential to assess patients’ learning needs and incorporate those learning needs into discharge plans.Keywords: Learning; Perception; Coronary Artery Bypass; Education; Patients; Nurses; Oman

Comparing Privacy Control Methods for Smartphone Platforms

Abstract-Nowadays, many important applications are performed through mobile phones. It is essential to ensure that users' private information is not leaked through those applications. In this paper, we perform a comparison on privacy control methods implemented on the Android and iOS platforms based on the Bellotti and Sellen's framework. The comparison helps understand the discrepancies existent between the users' expectations for privacy and the privacy control methods currently implemented in Android and iOS. To better address users' privacy concerns, we propose a programming model for platform designers to improve privacy. Our initial study on 60 privacy bugs show that using the proposed programming models, 14 Android and 5 iOS privacy bugs can be eliminated

Prevalence of nicotine dependence among university students in Jordan: a cross-sectional study

Tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever encountered. The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of nicotine dependence among university students in Jordan and assess factors associated with this dependence.  A cross-sectional study using simple random sampling was conducted among university students from 3 public and 3 private universities selected for their convenience from central, middle, and east Jordan via administering a questionnaire between October 2016 and January 2017. The total number of participants was 892.  The overall nicotine dependence was 51.2%. Correlates to nicotine dependence were studying at an undergraduate level (OR=3.6; 95% CI: 1.4-8.1); studying humanities (OR=1.73; 95% CI: 1.2-2.1); existing of a smoking family member (OR=1.63; 95% CI: 1.5-1.9); starting smoking before age of 15 years (OR=1.60; 95% CI: 1.2-2.1); water pipe smoking (OR=1.48; 95% CI: 1.1-2.0); and studying at governmental universities (OR=1.36; 95% CI: 1.0-1.8).  Several socio-demographic characteristics had an impact on nicotine dependence. Future research is necessary to further improve our understanding of motives for smoking and dependence.&nbsp

Magneto-Acoustic Waves in antiferromagnetic CuMnAs excited by Surface Acoustic Waves

Magnetoelastic effects in antiferromagnetic CuMnAs are investigated by applying dynamic strain in the 0.01% range through surface acoustic waves in the GaAs substrate. The magnetic state of the CuMnAs/GaAs is characterized by a multitude of submicron-sized domains which we image by x-ray magnetic linear dichroism combined with photoemission electron microscopy. Within the explored strain range, CuMnAs shows magnetoelastic effects in the form of N\'eel vector waves with micrometer wavelength, which corresponds to an averaged overall spin-axis rotation up to 2.4 deg driven by the time-dependent strain from the surface acoustic wave. Measurements at different temperatures indicate a reduction of the wave amplitude when lowering the temperature. However, no domain wall motion has been detected on the nanosecond timescal

Definition of bulky disease in early stage diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in computed tomography on coronal and transverse planes

BackgroundIn early stage diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (ESDLBL), tumor bulkiness is an important determinant of treatment and prognosis. Tumor bulk is usually measured on transverse computed tomography (CT) plane and variably defined from 5 to 10 cm.ObjectivesOur study aims to investigate the prognostic significance of bulky disease measured on CT coronal and transverse planes and to evaluate the outcome of patients with bulky disease.MethodsPatients with ESDLBL and treated with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisolone (RCHOP) with or without radiotherapy were included. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to identify the optimal tumor dimension that correlated with progression, relapse, or death. Correlation between different variables and progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using log-rank (Mantel–Cox) test and Cox proportional hazard models.ResultsA total of 127 patients with a median age of 47 (range: 18–90) years were included. Eighty-two (64.6%) patients treated with combined modality treatment (CMT) [RCHOP + radiotherapy]. After a median follow-up of 40 (range: 2–114) months, 3-year PFS and OS were 83.9% (95% CI: 76.759%–89.981%), and 80.6% (95% CI: 72.499%–87.531%), respectively. Tumor dimension of >7.5 cm measured on either CT plane was the optimal cutoff point to define bulky disease. Three-year PFS and OS were inferior in the group of patients with no bulky disease on transvers plane (n = 84) but had bulky disease on coronal plane (n = 9,10.7%); (94.2% vs. 75%, p = 0.017 and 90.5% vs. 56.3%, p = 0.002), as well as in patients with no bulky disease on coronal plane (n = 89), but had bulky disease on transverse plane (n = 14, 15.7%); (94.1% vs. 62.3%, p < 0.001, and 90.4% vs. 63.5%, p = 0.002). Compared to RCHOP alone, 3-year PFS and OS were better in patients with bulky disease treated with CMT (78% vs. 52.5%, p = 0.018 and 81.8% vs. 38.7%, p = 0.003) but not in patients with non-bulky disease (96.2% vs. 93%, p = 0.691 and 87.6% vs. 91.5%, p = 0.477).ConclusionIn ESDLBL, measurement of tumor mass on transverse and coronal CT planes may help in better identification of patients with bulky disease. The use of CMT was associated with better survival outcomes in patients with bulky disease