The Ranges of K-theoretic Invariants for Nonsimple Graph Algebras

There are many classes of nonsimple graph C*-algebras that are classified by the six-term exact sequence in K-theory. In this paper we consider the range of this invariant and determine which cyclic six-term exact sequences can be obtained by various classes of graph C*-algebras. To accomplish this, we establish a general method that allows us to form a graph with a given six-term exact sequence of K-groups by splicing together smaller graphs whose C*-algebras realize portions of the six-term exact sequence. As rather immediate consequences, we obtain the first permanence results for extensions of graph C*-algebras. We are hopeful that the results and methods presented here will also prove useful in more general cases, such as situations where the C*-algebras under investigations have more than one ideal and where there are currently no relevant classification theories available.Comment: 40 page

The extension problem for graph C∗C^*-algebras

We give a complete $K$-theoretical description of when an extension of two simple graph $C^{*}$-algebras is again a graph $C^{*}$-algebra.Comment: Accepted version, to appear in Annals of K-theor

A Checklist of the Vascular Flora of Allamakee County, Iowa

Based upon field and herbarium study, the vascular flora of Allamakee County is composed of 1040 taxa (species plus hybrids), including 46 endangered and 23 threatened Iowa species. This number represents approximately 50% of the species in the state flora and is the greatest number of taxa documented for a single Iowa county. The large and diverse flora reflects the diversity of topography and habitat types within the county. The study resulted in the addition of four taxa to the state flora (Conopholis americana, Dryopteris X triploidea, Equisetum X litorale, and Polygonum douglasii) and in the location of populations of two species previously considered extirpated within the state (Dryopteris intermedia and Ilex verticillata)

Development and Short-Range Testing of a 100 kW Side-Illuminated Millimeter-Wave Thermal Rocket

The objective of the phase described here of the Millimeter-Wave Thermal Launch System (MTLS) Project was to launch a small thermal rocket into the air using millimeter waves. The preliminary results of the first MTLS flight vehicle launches are presented in this work. The design and construction of a small thermal rocket with a planar ceramic heat exchanger mounted along the axis of the rocket is described. The heat exchanger was illuminated from the side by a millimeter-wave beam and fed propellant from above via a small tank containing high pressure argon or nitrogen. Short-range tests where the rocket was launched, tracked, and heated with the beam are described. The rockets were approximately 1.5 meters in length and 65 millimeters in diameter, with a liftoff mass of 1.8 kilograms. The rocket airframes were coated in aluminum and had a parachute recovery system activated via a timer and Pyrodex. At the rocket heat exchanger, the beam distance was 40 meters with a peak power intensity of 77 watts per square centimeter. and a total power of 32 kilowatts in a 30 centimeter diameter circle. An altitude of approximately 10 meters was achieved. Recommendations for improvements are discussed

Checklist of the Vascular Flora of Lyon and Sioux Counties, Iowa

The combined vascular flora of Lyon and Sioux counties, Iowa, based upon field and herbarium study, is composed of 612 species, of which 454 species (74%) occur in both counties. The Lyon County vascular flora consists of 561 species, including 13 state endangered, 9 state threatened species, and 102 non-native species. The Sioux County vascular flora consists of 506 species, including 2 state threatened species and 106 non-native species. The floras are most notable for the presence of plants with floristic affinities to the Great Plains to the west of Iowa. They also have a very high percentage (18%-20%) of their floras comprised of non-native species, reflecting the intensity of human activities on the landscape

Electrochemical investigation of the kinetics of chloride substitution upon reduction of [Ru(porphyrin)(NO)Cl] complexes in THF.

The electrochemistry of several ruthenium porphyrin nitrosyl chloride complexes [Ru(por)(NO)Cl] have been examined in tetrahydrofuran. The complexes undergo 1-electron irreversible reductions which result in the diffusion-limited substitutions of the chloride ligands for THF. This chloride metathesis is reversible in the presence of added NBu4Cl, and equilibrium constants and rate constants for chloride loss have been estimated. These parameters correlate with the NO stretching frequencies of the parent complexes, with more electron-donating porphyrin ligands favouring chloride loss from the reduced complexes. The [Ru(por)(NO)(THF)] products of the reductions can be detected by IR, EPR and visible spectroscopies. These species undergo three further reductions, with good reversibility at scan rates \u3e0.40 V s-1. The [Ru(por)(NO)(THF)]+/0 couples have also been determined, and the rate constants and equilibrium constants for recombination with chloride have been estimated. One-electron reductions of the [Ru(por)(NO)Cl] complexes result in ~1018 enhancement of the rates of chloride loss

Tracked 3D ultrasound and deep neural network-based thyroid segmentation reduce interobserver variability in thyroid volumetry

Thyroid volumetry is crucial in the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of thyroid diseases. However, conventional thyroid volumetry with 2D ultrasound is highly operator-dependent. This study compares 2D and tracked 3D ultrasound with an automatic thyroid segmentation based on a deep neural network regarding inter- and intraobserver variability, time, and accuracy. Volume reference was MRI. 28 healthy volunteers (24—50 a) were scanned with 2D and 3D ultrasound (and by MRI) by three physicians (MD 1, 2, 3) with different experience levels (6, 4, and 1 a). In the 2D scans, the thyroid lobe volumes were calculated with the ellipsoid formula. A convolutional deep neural network (CNN) automatically segmented the 3D thyroid lobes. 26, 6, and 6 random lobe scans were used for training, validation, and testing, respectively. On MRI (T1 VIBE sequence) the thyroid was manually segmented by an experienced MD. MRI thyroid volumes ranged from 2.8 to 16.7ml (mean 7.4, SD 3.05). The CNN was trained to obtain an average Dice score of 0.94. The interobserver variability comparing two MDs showed mean differences for 2D and 3D respectively of 0.58 to 0.52ml (MD1 vs. 2), −1.33 to −0.17ml (MD1 vs. 3) and −1.89 to −0.70ml (MD2 vs. 3). Paired samples t-tests showed significant differences for 2D (p = .140, p = .002 and p = .002) and none for 3D (p = .176, p = .722 and p = .057). Intraobsever variability was similar for 2D and 3D ultrasound. Comparison of ultrasound volumes and MRI volumes showed a significant difference for the 2D volumetry of all MDs (p = .002, p = .009, p <.001), and no significant difference for 3D ultrasound (p = .292, p = .686, p = 0.091). Acquisition time was significantly shorter for 3D ultrasound. Tracked 3D ultrasound combined with a CNN segmentation significantly reduces interobserver variability in thyroid volumetry and increases the accuracy of the measurements with shorter acquisition times

Space Shuttle Orbiter Structures and Mechanisms

The Space Shuttle Orbiter has performed exceptionally well over its 30 years of flight experience. Among the many factors behind this success were robust, yet carefully monitored, structural and mechanical systems. From highlighting key aspects of the design to illustrating lessons learned from the operation of this complex system, this paper will attempt to educate the reader on why some subsystems operated flawlessly and why specific vulnerabilities were exposed in others. Specific areas to be covered will be the following: high level configuration overview, primary and secondary structure, mechanical systems ranging from landing gear to the docking system, and windows

A Checklist of the Vascular Flora of Lee County, Iowa

The vascular flora of Lee County, Iowa, based upon field and herbarium study, is composed of 876 taxa (species plus hybrids), including 25 endangered and 5 threatened Iowa species. Naturalized species totaled 154. The study added 318 species to the county flora, a 57% increase to the flora of what had been called one of lowa\u27s best collected counties. Two species are reported as additions to the state flora: Habenaria lacera (Michx.) Lodd. and Vitis baileyana Munson. The flora is most notable for the presence of many species which do not occur much farther northward in Iowa, being plants with floristic affinity to the Ozark Plateau in Missouri

Measuring the photo-ionization rate, neutral fraction and mean free path of HI ionizing photons at 4.9≤z≤6.04.9 \leq z \leq 6.0 from a large sample of XShooter and ESI spectra

We measure the mean free path ($\lambda_{\rm mfp,HI}$), photo-ionization rate ($\langle \Gamma_{\rm HI} \rangle$) and neutral fraction ($\langle f_{\rm HI} \rangle$) of hydrogen in 12 redshift bins at $4.85<z<6.05$ from a large sample of moderate resolution XShooter and ESI QSO absorption spectra. The fluctuations in ionizing radiation field are modeled by post-processing simulations from the Sherwood suite using our new code ''EXtended reionization based on the Code for Ionization and Temperature Evolution'' (EX-CITE). EX-CITE uses efficient Octree summation for computing intergalactic medium attenuation and can generate large number of high resolution $\Gamma_{\rm HI}$ fluctuation models. Our simulation with EX-CITE shows remarkable agreement with simulations performed with the radiative transfer code Aton and can recover the simulated parameters within $1\sigma$ uncertainty. We measure the three parameters by forward-modeling the Ly$\alpha$ forest and comparing the effective optical depth ($\tau_{\rm eff, HI}$) distribution in simulations and observations. The final uncertainties in our measured parameters account for the uncertainties due to thermal parameters, modeling parameters, observational systematics and cosmic variance. Our best fit parameters show significant evolution with redshift such that $\lambda_{\rm mfp,HI}$ and $\langle f_{\rm HI} \rangle$ decreases and increases by a factor $\sim 6$ and $\sim 10^{4}$, respectively from $z \sim 5$ to $z \sim 6$. By comparing our $\lambda_{\rm mfp,HI}$, $\langle \Gamma_{\rm HI} \rangle$ and $\langle f_{\rm HI} \rangle$ evolution with that in state-of-the-art Aton radiative transfer simulations and the Thesan and CoDa-III simulations, we find that our best fit parameter evolution is consistent with a model in which reionization completes by $z \sim 5.2$.Comment: 30 pages (+14 pages appendices), 14 figures (+18 figures appendices); submitted to MNRAS; Main results are summarized in Fig. 10, Fig. 11 and Table