Small surfaces of Willmore type in Riemannian manifolds

In this paper we investigate the properties of small surfaces of Willmore type in Riemannian manifolds. By \emph{small} surfaces we mean topological spheres contained in a geodesic ball of small enough radius. In particular, we show that if there exist such surfaces with positive mean curvature in the geodesic ball $B_r(p)$ for arbitrarily small radius $r$ around a point $p$ in the Riemannian manifold, then the scalar curvature must have a critical point at $p$. As a byproduct of our estimates we obtain a strengthened version of the non-existence result of Mondino \cite{Mondino:2008} that implies the non-existence of certain critical points of the Willmore functional in regions where the scalar curvature is non-zero.Comment: 25 pages. Minor correction

Energy identity for approximations of harmonic maps from surfaces

We prove the energy identity for the Sacks-Uhlenbeck and the biharmonic approximation of harmonic maps from surfaces into general target manifolds. The proof relies on Hopf-differential type estimates for the two approximations and on estimates for the concentration radius of bubbles

Combined State and Parameter Estimation for a Static Model of the Maypole (Hoop-Column) Antenna Suface

Parameter and state estimation techniques are discussed for an elliptic system arising in a developmental model for the antenna surface of the Maypole Hoop/Column antenna. A computational algorithm based on spline approximations for the state and elastic parameters is given and numerical results obtained using this algorithm are summarized

Existence of immersed spheres minimizing curvature functionals in compact 3-manifolds

We study curvature functionals for immersed 2-spheres in a compact, three-dimensional Riemannian manifold M. Under the assumption that the sectional curvature of M is strictly positive, we prove the existence of a smoothly immersed sphere minimizing the L^{2} integral of the second fundamental form. Assuming instead that the sectional curvature is less than or equal to 2, and that there exists a point in M with scalar curvature bigger than 6, we obtain a smooth 2-sphere minimizing the integral of 1/4|H|^{2} +1, where H is the mean curvature vector

Influence of Source Credibility on Agricultural Water Use Communication

As the agriculture industry strives to communicate with the public about its role in protecting natural resources such as water, it struggles to provide messages from sources the public trusts. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study explored public perception of agricultural water use and how perception was influenced by a video message delivered from four different sources including 1) an environmental scientist from the Nature Conservancy, 2) a farmer, 3) a regulator from a Florida water management district, and 4) a water scientist from the University of Florida. The findings revealed that overall the general public had a positive view of how the agriculture industry used water, regardless of message source. Differences between groups were evident when message source expertise and trustworthiness was dependent on domain area. Results indicated the respondents receiving the Nature Conservancy video treatment exhibited a significantly higher level of agreement with negatively framed items related to agriculture’s relationship with the natural environment than the respondents receiving the farmer video treatment. Based on the findings from this study, agricultural communicators should consider the trustworthiness and perceived expertise of sources, such as representatives from regulatory agencies, educational institutions, members of the agriculture sector, or environmental organizations, when developing messages about water use targeted at the general public

Foliations of asymptotically flat manifolds by surfaces of Willmore type

The goal of this paper is to establish the existence of a foliation of the asymptotic region of an asymptotically flat manifold with nonzero mass by surfaces which are critical points of the Willmore functional subject to an area constraint. Equivalently these surfaces are critical points of the Geroch-Hawking mass. Thus our result has applications in the theory of General Relativity

Case Report of Suspected Rhabdomyolysis during Treatment with Trabectedin in a Patient with Metastatic Leiomyosarcoma

Trabectedin has been reported to occasionally induce rhabdomyolysis. In the present case, continuation of trabectedin was maintained despite suspected rhabdomyolysis related to trabectedin. Creatinine kinase levels dropped to normal levels. We suggest that continuation of trabectedin despite suspected rhabdomyolysis was safe in this specific patient

Reductions of aldehydes and ketones with a readily available N-heterocyclic carbene borane and acetic acid

Acetic acid promotes the reduction of aldehydes and ketones by the readily available N-heterocyclic carbene borane, 1,3-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene borane. Aldehydes are reduced over 1-24 h at room temperature with 1 equiv of acetic acid and 0.5 equiv of the NHC-borane. Ketone reductions are slower but can be accelerated by using 5 equiv of acetic acid. Aldehydes can be selectively reduced in the presence of ketones. On a small scale, products are isolated by evaporation of the reaction mixture and direct chromatography. © 2013 Lamm et al

Team-Based Learning in Engineering Classrooms: Feedback Form and Content Adds Value to the Learning Experience

An instructional strategy called Team-Based Learning (TBL) has been implemented by the authors in courses that emphasize fundamental engineering concepts that are core to the discipline. TBL is an alternative to conventional classroom lecture instruction. In a TBL course, students are placed on permanent learning teams and the teams work together, during class time, to apply course concepts and solve discipline-relevant problems called application exercises. The goal of introducing TBL in these engineering courses is to enhance the quality of student learning by incentivizing student engagement with course content and fostering team skills. This is achieved by using application exercises that require student teams to apply critical thinking and decision making abilities. Students on high performing teams routinely report that their team’s success on application exercises is directly attributable to the thorough preparation by individual student team members outside of class, and that the TBL course structure helped them develop and enhance their ability to learn challenging concepts on their own. An important component of TBL course structure is the inclusion of frequent, timely, and varied types of instructional feedback to students. This paper will introduce a taxonomy for instructional feedback and place the feedback mechanisms that are inherent in the TBL course structure within this context. The form and content of instructional feedback used in TBL engineering courses will be examined. This discussion will include suggestions for achieving a balance between the dimensions of feedback to facilitate the professional development of engineering students