cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the performance of machine learning algorithms for network intrusion detection systems in the internet of things infrastructure

As numerous Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices are deploying on a daily basis, network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) are among the most critical tools to ensure the protection and security of networks against malicious cyberattacks. This paper employs four machine learning algorithms: XGBoost, random forest, decision tree, and gradient boosting, and evaluates their performance in NIDS, considering the accuracy, precision, recall, and F-score. The comparative analysis conducted using the CICIDS2017 dataset reveals that the XGBoost performs better than the other algorithms reaching the predicted accuracy of 99.6% in detecting cyberattacks. XGBoost-based attack detectors also have the largest weighted metrics of F1-score, precision, and recall. The paper also studies the effect of class imbalance and the size of the normal and attack classes. The small numbers of some attacks in training datasets mislead the classifier to bias towards the majority classes resulting in a bottleneck to improving macro recall and macro F1 score. The results assist the network engineers in choosing the most effective machine learning-based NIDS to ensure network security for today’s growing IoT network traffic.
Developing medical ultrasound imaging application across GPU, FPGA, and CPU using oneAPI

The Diagnostic ultrasound is a rapidly developing imaging technology that is widely used in the clinic. A typical ultrasound imaging pipeline including the following algorithms: beamforming, Envelope detection, log-compression, and scan-conversion [1]. In tradition, ultrasound imaging is implemented using Application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and FPGAs due to its high throughput and massive data processing requirements. With the development of the GPGPU and its programming environments (e.g. CUDA), researchers use software to implement ultrasound imaging algorithms [2], [3]. For now, the two limiting factors of developing ultrasound imaging are: First, using a hardware development approach to implement ultrasound imaging algorithms is complex, time-consuming and lacks flexibility. Second, the existing CUDA-based ultrasound imaging implementations are limited to Nvidia hardware, which is also a restriction applying more architectures. oneAPI is a cross-platform and unified programming environment developed by intel. It enables heterogeneous computing across multiple hardware architectures using Data Parallel C++ (DPC++). This new programming suite can be used to address the problems mentioned above. To be clear, using a high-level language like DPC++ to program FPGA can accelerate ultrasound imaging application development. SYCL-based ultrasound imaging applications can be easily migrated to other vendor's hardware. To implement an ultrasound imaging application across multiple architectures (e.g., GPU, FPGA, and CPU) in a unified programming environment. We migrated a CUDA-based open-source ultrasound imaging project SUPRA [4]. The migration process was performed using oneAPI compatibility tool (e.g. dpct). After migration, the code was tuned to run on GPU, FPGA, and CPU. In this talk, we will discuss our experiences with the complete process of migrating a CUDA code to oneAPI code. First, the whole process of migrating CUDA code base using the dpct will be presented, including usage, code modification, API comparison and build instruction. Second, the ultrasound imaging algorithms’ computation characteristics will be analyzed, and we will show how to optimize the application on Intel GPUs, Including ESIDM usage. Third, the early experiences of tuning the migrated code to target FPGA will be highlighted, this will include device code rewrite for FPGA and programming skills to improve performance on FPGA. The device code comparison of GPU and FPGA will also be discussed. Last, we will compare ultrasound imaging algorithms performance and computation results on different hardware, including Intel GPU (integrated GPU and discrete GPU), Intel Arria 10 FPGA, Intel CPU, Nvidia GTX 1080 GPU, and GTX 960M GPU.
Large sphenoid mucocele presenting with cranial neuropathies in a 10-year-old boy: case report and literature review

Mucoceles in the sphenoid sinus are rare, making up 1–3% of all paranasal sinus mucoceles. Sphenoid sinus mucoceles among pediatric patients are uncommon and have a range of presentations due to their proximity to other structures, in rare cases causing oculomotor and visual disturbances through expansion and mass effect. We present a case of a large expansile sphenoid sinus mucocele causing cranial nerve III and VI palsies in a 10-year-old boy. Endoscopic resection of the mucocele was performed for diagnosis and decompression, leading to immediate relief of the patient’s symptoms and improvement in cranial nerve function. Post-operative imaging showed complete resolution of the mucocele. Our case report and review of the current literature emphasizes that prompt diagnosis and intervention can lead to a good clinical outcome and prevention of permanent cranial neuropathy.
Silicones Today

From 1988 through 2011, silicon has been an integral part of the author’s career. As she embarks on her career in academe, she recounts how her experiences in industry has shaped her research thrusts and initiatives.
Predicting master transcription factors from pan-cancer expression data.

Critical developmental “master transcription factors” (MTFs) can be subverted during tumorigenesis to control oncogenic transcriptional programs. Current approaches to identifying MTFs rely on ChIP...
T-cell stimulation: an abundance of B7s

Many different T-cell co-stimulatory molecules have been recently discovered. Determining exactly how many there are, why there are so many and what they all do is the next task ( 1365–1369 ).
Role of Phospholipids in Cell Function

Phospholipids play a dual role in cells as both essential structural components of the cell membrane and as important metabolic intermediates and regulatory molecules. The wide diversity of phospholipid species found in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells suggests a broader spectrum of functions for phospholipids than are currently appreciated. Because of this pleiotropic requirement for normal cell function, it has often been difficult to assign a specific role to a particular phospholipid or group of phospholipids. In most cell types it is difficult to effect systematic and extensive alteration of the normal phospholipid composition by alterations of the growth conditions. Therefore, many earlier studies relied on in vitro biochemical studies without the necessary in vivo confirmation of physiological significance. Utilization of classical genetic approaches has established the essential role of specific phospholipids for cell viability but have not provided a precise understanding at the molecular level for their requirement (Raetz and Dowhan, 1990).
Fuzzy Lattice Reasoning (FLR) Classification Using Similarity Measures

In this work, we show that the underlying inclusion measure used by fuzzy lattice reasoning (FLR) classifiers can be extended to various similarity and distance measures often used in cluster analysis. We show that for the cosine similarity measures, we can weigh the contribution of each attribute found in the data set. Furthermore, we show that evolutionary algorithms such as genetic algorithms, tabu search, particle swarm optimization, and differential evolution can be used to weigh the importance of each attribute and that this weighting can provide additional improvements over simply using the similarity measure. We present experimental evidence that the proposed techniques imply significant improvements.
The protein phosphatase isoforms PP1γ1 and PP1γ2 are non-equivalent in supporting sperm function and male fertility (802.20)

Ser/Thr phosphatase type I isoforms PP1γ1 and PP1γ2 are alternately spliced transcripts of one gene, PPP1CC. Amino acid sequences of PP1γ1 and PP1γ2 are identical except at their extreme C-termini. PP1γ1 is ubiquitous whereas PP1γ2 is abundant in testis. PPP1CC knockout male mice (-/-) are sterile due to impaired sperm morphogenesis. Fertility can be restored in PPP1CC (-/-) mice by testis specific transgenic expression of PP1γ2. The purpose of this study was to determine if PP1γ1 is equivalent to PP1γ2 in supporting spermatogenesis and male fertility. We generated four different transgenic rescue mice lines with cDNA containing the entire PP1γ1 coding sequence followed by various portions of its 3’UTR. Testis expression of PP1γ1 occurred only when the transgene lacked a 1Kb segment immediately following the stop codon of the PP1γ1 transcript. Levels of the PP1γ1 transgene in this line were comparable to PP1γ2 levels in PPP1CC (+/-) testis. Spermatogenesis was restored in these PP1γ1 rescue mice, but male...
Application of Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy Protocols to Pre-Clinical Tumor Models

This unit (1) provides background into understanding how agents that target specific molecules or receptors (molecular-targeted agents), in particular, agents affecting the tumor vasculature (perivasculature network in tumors), interact with and modify radiation therapy; (2) details factors affecting interpretation of results in murine tumor model experiments utilizing radiation therapy and drug combinations; and (3) provides specific protocols for the application of radiation therapy, both alone and in combination with chemotherapy and/or molecular-targeted agents. Curr. Protoc. Pharmacol. 38:14.7.1-14.7.24. © 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: chemotherapy; radiation therapy; tumor models; tumor hypoxia; tumor growth delay; preclinical
Biomarker responses in human populations: towards a worldwide map

The discipline of epidemiology studies the determinants of diseases in human populations, identifies causes, determines outcomes and develops prevention strategies. Traditional epidemiology is most useful for studies of acute, relatively common diseases with short incubation periods but less so for studies of chronic low incidence diseases with long incubation periods. Molecular epidemiology, which employs biological responses or biomarkers as surrogates of exposures or effects, can help with the latter. For this reason, there is a great interest in developing and validating biomarkers. DNA damage underlies an important group of chronic diseases with long incubation periods, i.e., cancer. Biomarkers may measure the exposures that induce the DNA damage, the damage itself, or individual susceptibility to damage. Before they can be used for human population research, however, these measures must be validated. Biomarker validation critically depends on field studies. This is accomplished through transitional epidemiological studies that 'bridge the gap' between laboratory and field. Transitional epidemiological studies are of three varieties: (i) Developmental, (ii) Characterization, and (iii) Applied. Biomarkers are the dependent variables in transitional studies. An international network of laboratories for human population monitoring requires yet another dimension for validation, i.e., the comparability of results among laboratories must be determined. This will be achieved by sample sharing projects, with workshops to compare results. Only then can results in one population be compared with results in another. Interlaboratory standardization of assays for biomarkers validated by transitional studies will have far-reaching benefits. It will allow development of worldwide databases of background values for the various biomarkers-or biomarker maps. This, in turn, will facilitate problem identification and eventually constitute the baselines for area-specific population monitoring. Biomarker databases so developed can be compared with worldwide databases for cancer and heritable diseases, validating the former as statistical surrogates of the latter.
Organizational change and organizational development: Performance modeling and strategic planning for community policing

It has been perceived that the police were historically an organization which derived its authority and legitimacy from the public. Contemporary police scholars have suggested that the professional model of policing does not control crime and that the police should focus more attention on community issues which generate crime and urban decay. The concept of community policing has received national attention. Yet there are relatively few examples of debates which have abandoned the failed professional model and successfully made the transition to community policing. This article addresses the issue of organizational change and organizational development in relation to community policing and performance modeling.
Space-time tradeoffs in negative cycle detection - An empirical analysis of the Stressing Algorithm

This paper discusses space-time tradeoffs associated with algorithms for the problem of detecting negative cost cycles in networks (NCCD). NCCD is one of the more ubiquitous problems in computer science and operations research, with applications ranging from program verification and real-time scheduling to image segmentation and shortest path identification. Typical algorithmic analysis, whether theoretical or empirical, focuses almost exclusively on the running time of the algorithm. However, there exist applications in which space is just as important a parameter as time is. This is especially true when the problem instances are very large, as is the case in program verification. Consequently, an algorithm that minimizes running time while ignoring the space overhead may be impractical. In this paper, we analyze a number of the more common algorithms for NCCD from the perspectives of both time and space, with a view towards providing a space-time tradeoff for the practitioner. All the algorithms discussed in this paper (with the exception of Network Simplex) run in O(m.n) time on a network with m arcs and n vertices; however, their space requirements range from O(1) (Stressing Algorithm) to @W(n) (all the Bellman-Ford and Network Simplex variants). Our empirical results demonstrate that in the cases where space is paramount, the Stressing Algorithm is a useful alternative to the Bellman-Ford variants.
West Mexican Metallurgy: Revisited and Revised

Mesoamerican metallurgy furnishes an intellectual challenge in the development of world metallurgies: the evidence indicates that it was introduced from outside after state level societies had been flourishing in many areas. Two questions thus emerge: one concerns its origins, the second concerns what peoples did with this entirely new, unknown material. The evidence thus far indicates that metalworking knowledge and techniques were introduced from northern South America, which focused on lost-wax casting, as well as from the central Andes, where cold work from an initial cast blank was a predominant feature of that technology. Here I summarize what we know to date about the tradition that developed in the west, including some very new on-going research.
The Political Economy of Prosecution

Contemporary advances in the field of political economy, particularly those concerning the subject of delegated authority, can provide a unifying framework for analyzing the behavior and political context of criminal prosecutors in the United States. This perspective, which focuses on the extent of conflict between an official's motives and those of other actors, and the degree to which information is unevenly distributed among those actors, is well suited for studying prosecutors—the vast majority of whom are elected but whose accountability is frequently called into question. We apply this perspective to three areas in the existing literature on prosecutors: plea bargaining, courtroom communities, and public corruption prosecution.
Carcinoid APUDoma of the Pancreas

A case of non-beta islet cell tumor of the pancreas with elevated vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) levels and WDHA syndrome (watery diarrhea, hypokalemia, and achlorhydria) was studied. Angiography and radio isotope scanning showed profuse abnormal vascularity. Ultrasonography showed a solid mass with small- to medium-sized cystic spaces. Histologic examination with special staining (Sevier-Munger) showed carcinoid tumor.
UNDERSTANDING RESPONSE BEHAVIOR TO AN ONLINE SPECIAL TOPICS ORGANIZATIONAL SATISFACTION SURVEY

In this study we sought to better understand response intentions and response behavior to an online special topics university satisfaction survey to not only advance theory but to better inform practice on the meaning and implications of nonresponse to their efforts. Using the Rogelberg, Luong, Sederburg, and Cristol (2000) response behavior model, data collected in this 2-wave field study (394 students, 50% men) supported most of the framework's major assertions, supported our proposed extensions, and resulted in a few unexpected findings. Overall, to understand response behavior to an online special topics organizational survey, one must take into consideration factors related to technology, attitudes toward surveys in general, satisfaction with the specific topic in question, and response intentions.
220 HYPOTENSIVE AUTOREGULATION OF CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW DURING HYPOXIA

We determined whether cerebral blood flow autoregulation is altered during hypoxic hypoxia in 10 anesthetized, ventilated dogs. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured globally and regionally (rCBF) via the cerebral venous outflow and radiolabelled microsphere techniques. Mean arterial blood pressure was lowered from control (120 mmHg) in decrements of 10 mmHg. Each level of pressure was maintained for 5 min. Cisterna magna pressure and cerebral venous outflow pressure were maintained at 0 mmHg. PaCO2 and pH were maintained constant throughout the experiment. The lower limit of autoregulation during normoxia (PaO2=88 torr) was approximately 58 mmHg. At that point, CBF began to decrease from control levels of 25 ml/min down to 10 ml/min at 30 mmHg. Cerebral vascular resistance (CVR) decreased as cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) decreased, but continued to decrease beyond the lower limit of autoregulation. With further reduction in CPP (to 30 mmHg), CVR sharply increased. With hypoxia (PaO2=25 torr), CBF increased to 70 ml/min, but the lower limit of autoregulation was only slightly altered (63 mmHg). Microsphere measurements of rCBF confirmed these results. We conclude that cerebral autoregulation is intact during severe hypoxia. These data demonstrate that the classically defined lower limit of autoregulation is not the point of maximal cerebral vasodilation. Supported by NS-20020.
Sequentially-Coupled Arterial Fluid-Structure Interaction (SCAFSI) technique

Abstract The Sequentially-Coupled Arterial Fluid–Structure Interaction (SCAFSI) technique is one of the special techniques developed recently by the Team for Advanced Flow Simulation and Modeling (T☆AFSM) for FSI modeling of blood flow and arterial dynamics. The SCAFSI technique, which was introduced as an approximate FSI approach in arterial fluid mechanics, is based on the assumption that the arterial deformation during a cardiac cycle is driven mostly by the blood pressure. In the SCAFSI, first we compute a “reference” arterial deformation as a function of time, driven only by the blood pressure profile of the cardiac cycle. Then we compute a sequence of updates involving mesh motion, fluid dynamics calculations, and recomputing the arterial deformation. Although the SCAFSI technique was developed and tested in conjunction with the stabilized space–time FSI (SSTFSI) technique, it can also be used in conjunction with other FSI modeling techniques categorized as moving-mesh methods. The SSTFSI technique is based on the Deforming-Spatial-Domain/Stabilized Space–Time (DSD/SST) formulation and includes the enhancements introduced recently by the T☆AFSM. The arterial structures can be modeled with the membrane or continuum elements, both of which are geometrically nonlinear, and the continuum element can be made of linearly-elastic or hyperelastic material (Mooney–Rivlin or Fung). Here we provide an overview of the SCAFSI technique and present a number of test computations for abdominal aortic and cerebral aneurysms, where the arterial geometries used in the computations are close approximations to the patient-specific image-based data.
Single-cell profiling reveals the origin of phenotypic variability in adipogenesis.

Phenotypic heterogeneity in a clonal cell population is a well-observed but poorly understood phenomenon. Here, a single-cell approach is employed to investigate non-mutative causes of phenotypic heterogeneity during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells into fat cells. Using coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy and flow cytometry, adipogenic gene expression, insulin signaling, and glucose import are visualized simultaneously with lipid droplet accumulation in single cells. Expression of adipogenic genes PPARγ, C/EBPα, aP2, LP2 suggests a commitment to fat cell differentiation in all cells. However, the lack of lipid droplet in many differentiating cells suggests adipogenic gene expression is insufficient for lipid droplet formation. Instead, cell-to-cell variability in lipid droplet formation is dependent on the cascade responses of an insulin signaling pathway which includes insulin sensitivity, kinase activity, glucose import, expression of an insulin degradation enzyme, and insulin degradation rate. Increased and prolonged insulin stimulation promotes lipid droplet accumulation in all differentiating cells. Single-cell profiling reveals the kinetics of an insulin signaling cascade as the origin of phenotypic variability in drug-inducible adipogenesis.
Molecular Epidemiology of “Norwalk-like Viruses” in Outbreaks of Gastroenteritis in the United States

Fecal specimens from 90 outbreaks of nonbacterial gastroenteritis reported to 33 state health departments from January 1996 to June 1997 were examined to determine the importance of and to characterize "Norwalk-like viruses" (NLVs) in these outbreaks. NLVs were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in specimens from 86 (96%) of 90 outbreaks. Outbreaks were most frequent in nursing homes and hospitals (43%), followed by restaurants or events with catered meals (26%); consumption of contaminated food was the most commonly identified mode of transmission (37%). Nucleotide sequence analysis showed great diversity between strains but also provided evidence indicating the emergence of a common, predominant strain. The application of improved molecular techniques to detect NLVs demonstrates that most outbreaks of nonbacterial gastroenteritis in the United States appear to be associated with these viruses and that sequence analysis is a robust tool to help link or differentiate these outbreaks.
Statins for all

Recent guidelines for cholesterol management proposed by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) recommended statin therapy for most men in their 60s and most women in their 70s. If these guidelines are followed in the United States, most adults will eventually take statins. A companion article in this journal goes a step further by proposing statin initiation for mostly everyone about 10 years earlier. Treatment in ACC/AHA guidelines does not depend on cholesterol levels, for either statin initiation or treatment goals. Selection of patients for statin therapy depends instead on multifactorial risk assessment derived from prospective studies in subgroups of the US population. Because of expansion of statin therapy, the issue of the reliability of risk assessment has come to the fore. Some evidence suggests that the ACC/AHA risk algorithm overestimates risk in many persons; if so, this would lead to statin therapy beyond what was intended. Some investigators favor assessment of risk based on presence or absence of categorical risk factors or higher risk conditions. Others propose selection of individuals for statin therapy grounded in measurement of atherosclerosis burden. Finally, an alternate approach to cholesterol management is to establish cholesterol goals for secondary and primary prevention. Cholesterol levels, and not global risk assessment, here define the intensity of therapy. The use of cholesterol goals allows more flexibility in treatment by taking advantage of lifestyle therapies and various drugs and their doses to attain defined goals.
Energy harvesting communications with continuous energy arrivals

This work considers an energy harvesting transmitter that gathers a continuous flow of energy from intermittent sources, thus relaxing the modeling assumption of discrete amounts of harvested energy present in all previous work on energy harvesting communications. Tools from convex analysis are utilized to describe the optimal transmission policy as the boundary of a properly defined region based on the energy profile. The results are extended to include models where the transmitter has a finite capacity battery with various imperfections, as well as those that incorporate a processing cost (circuit power) at the transmitter whenever it is in operation.
Facile lipid flip-flop in a phospholipid bilayer induced by gramicidin A measured by sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy

The first direct experimental evidence that gramicidin A (gA), a transmembrane peptide, facilitates the translocation of unlabeled lipids in a phospholipid bilayer was obtained with sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy (SFVS). SFVS was used to investigate the effect of gA on lipid flip-flop in a planar 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC) lipid bilayer. The kinetics of lipid translocation were determined by an analysis of the SFVS intensity versus time at different temperatures in the presence of 2 mol % gA. The rate constants of DSPC flip-flop increase from 2 to 10 times relative to the pure DSPC system. The results indicate that facial lipid exchange can be induced by a hydrophobic transmembrane helix. The increase in lipid flip-flop rates is correlated to an increase in the gauche content of the lipid tails. The results suggest that membrane defects induced by the presence of integral membrane proteins may play a large role in modulating the rate of lipid flip-flop.
Linking self-esteem with the tendency to engage in financial planning

Abstract A strong positive relationship between self-esteem and an individual’s decision to engage in various forms of financial planning is empirically demonstrated using a unique data sample. These results yield interesting implications for the possible effect of self-esteem interventions on financial planning choices and pave the way for future psychological and economic research in this area.
Microbiology of Recurrent Acute Rhinosinusitis

Objective We undertook to evaluate the microbiology of recurrent acute rhinosinusitis. Methods Repeated aspirations of maxillary sinus secretions by endoscopy were performed in eight patients over a period of 98 to 185 days. Results Bacteria were recovered for all 25 aspirates. A total of 31 isolates—14 Streptococcus pneumoniae, 11 Haemophilus influenzae, 5 Moraxella catarrhalis, and 1 Staphylococcus aureus—were recovered. The organism persisted in consecutive cultures in 13 instances and were eliminated in 8, and new organisms emerged in 6 instances. An increase in antimicrobial resistance was noted in 5 instances (3 in S. pneumoniae and 2 H. influenzae). Conclusions This study illustrates the microbial dynamics of recurrent acute rhinosinusitis, with the changes in microbial findings and increased bacterial resistance that occurs over time.
The Mechanism of Surface Trajectories and Milling Forces in Micro-Milling Processing

In practical industrial processing, in order to make the tiny functional devices assembly accuracy as high as possible, which raises an very high requirement for surface quality of micro workpiece. Some of the important factors in controlling the surface quality with the level of the trajectories and forces of the blade across on the workpiece have a great relationship. This paper presents generalized mathematical models of the trochoid and forces combined with the helix cutter geometry used in the industry. And then from both of these aspects analytical laws in-depth of the trochoidal curves and micro-cutting forces variation. It will be of great reference value for the study of micro-milling mechanism.
Facilitating attitudes and message characteristics in the expression of differences in intercultural encounters

Abstract Participants in an intercultural encounter bring with them differences in values, beliefs, attitudes, and world views. The communication of these differences often results in threat and defensive behavior. It is proposed in this article that the manner of communicating differences affects the responses to these differences. Open-mindedness and nonevaluativeness are seen as facilitating attitudes in the expression of differences, and the message characteristics of “open expression” are proposed to convey these attitudes. In an experimental study, participants were exposed to criticisms stated using varying degrees of open expression. Responses to open expression were judged to be more descriptive, problem oriented, receptive, other oriented, and involved than responses to non-open expression of criticism. Participants also reported less anger, irritation, and desire to change the other in response to open expression of differences. Results suggest that the manner of communicating differences is an important variable in moving toward understanding in intercultural encounters.
Reversible anorexia and rapid weight loss associated with neuroleptic administration in Alzheimer's disease.

Weight loss and malnutrition despite adequate dietary intake has been reported to be part of the clinical course in advanced dementia of the Alzheimer type. We present a case of reversible weight loss associated with neuroleptic use in a patient with Alzheimer's disease and discuss a possible pathophysiological basis for the weight loss. (J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 1989-2:45-47).
The role of environment in the friction of diamond for magnetic recording head applications

Abstract The coefficient of friction for diamond sliding against diamond and for diamond sliding against a thin-film magnetic disk has been measured at low sliding velocities (millimeters per minute). The experiments were carried out in laboratory air, vacuum (10 −8 Torr) and hydrogen, helium, nitrogen and oxygen gases at pressures ranging from 10 −6 to 10 −4 Torr. For both the sliding systems, the coefficient of friction was found to be highest in vacuum and lowest in air. Intermediate values were obtained in the presence of the other gases. For diamond sliding against diamond, the coefficient of friction decreased with increasing pressure of the gas in the chamber; this decrease was particularly rapid in the presence of excited hydrogen. Values of the friction coefficient close to that measured in the presence of air were also obtained in the presence of helium and excited hydrogen for diamond sliding against thin-film disk. There was no detectable change in the coefficient of friction for the latter system in air when the humidity was varied between 12% and 80%. The variations in the friction coefficient with different environments are explained in terms of the interactions occurring between the gases and the diamond/disk surface.
High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy Investigation of the Face-Centered Cubic/Hexagonal Close-Packed Martensite Transformation in Co-31.8 Wt Pct Ni Alloy: Part 2. Plate Intersections, Extended Defects, and Nucleation Mechanisms

The face-centered cubic/hexagonal close-packed (fcc/hcp) martensite phase transformation in a Co-31.8 wt pct Ni alloy was studied by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The HRTEM was used to study the structure and properties of intersections between martensite plates and other defects observed in the alloy such as stacking fault tetrahedra (SFT) and Z-type defects. The HRTEM was also used to attempt to determine if various proposed mechanisms for the fcc/hcp martensite transformation were operating. There is evidence to suggest that the reflection mechanism proposed by Bollmann and the dipole mechanism proposed by Hirth are active in the fcc/hcp martensitic transformation, although the evidence is not completely certain in either case. Growth of the hcp phase by a four- or six-plane mechanism as proposed by Mahajanet al. is possible in theory but was not observed in this study. Transformation by previously proposed pole mechanisms was also not observed in this study, although evidence for a new type of pole mechanism was found. The formation of SFT along the fcc/hcp martensite interface was observed to occur by the cross-slip of Shockley partial dislocations out of the fcc/hcp interface onto conjugate fcc matrix planes, followed by further cross-slip to form the SFT, as previously observed for grain boundaries in fcc alloys.
The risk and risk factors of contralateral reflux following repair of simple unilateral primary reflux.

AbstractPurpose: A population of patients undergoing unilateral antireflux surgery for simple primary reflux was studied to determine the rate and possible mechanism of new onset contralateral reflux postoperatively.Materials and Methods: A total of 107 patients with simple primary reflux were evaluated as to the surgical outcome, possible risk factors and appearance of new contralateral reflux.Results: Contralateral reflux appeared in 7% of this study population, and 3% ultimately had the contralateral ureter reimplanted. Risk factors appear to include younger age at initial repair, number of cystograms performed and presence or development of dysfunctional voiding.Conclusions: New contralateral reflux following unilateral reimplantation has a low incidence. Risk factors exist that when controlled or treated might even further lower the incidence of contralateral reflux and improve treatment outcome.
Glucose and fructose uptake by Limulus polyphemus hepatopancreatic brush border and basolateral membrane vesicles: evidence for Na + -dependent sugar transport activity

[(3)H]-fructose and [(3)H]-glucose transport activities were determined in brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) and basolateral membrane vesicles (BLMV) from Limulus polyphemus (horseshoe crab) hepatopancreas. Glucose transport was equilibrative in the absence of sodium and sodium dependent in the presence of sodium in BBMV, suggesting GLUT-like and SGLT-like transport activity. Glucose transport by BLMV was equilibrative and sodium independent. Fructose uptake by BBMV and BLMV was equilibrative in the absence of sodium and sodium dependent in the presence of sodium. Western blot analysis using a rabbit anti-mouse SGLT-1 polyclonal antibody indicated the presence of a cross-reacting horseshoe crab BBMV protein of similar molecular weight to the mammalian SGLT1. Sequence alignment of the mouse SGLT-4 and SGLT1 with a translated, horseshoe crab-expressed sequence tag also indicated significant identity between species. Fructose and glucose uptake in the absence and presence of sodium by hepatopancreas BBMV and BLMV indicated the presence of sodium-dependent transport activity for each sugar that may result from the presence of transporters similar to those described for other species.
Oxygen Electrocatalysts for Water Electrolyzers and Reversible Fuel Cells: Status and Perspective

Hydrogen production by electrochemical water electrolysis has received great attention as an alternative technology for energy conversion and storage. The oxygen electrode has a substantial effect on the performance and durability of water electrolyzers and reversible (or regenerative) fuel cells because of its intrinsically slow kinetics for oxygen evolution/reduction and poor durability under harsh operating environments. To improve oxygen kinetics and durability of the electrode, extensive studies for highly active and stable oxygen electrocatalysts have been performed. However, due to the thermodynamic instability of transition metals in acidic media, noble metal compounds have been primarily utilized as electrocatalysts in water electrolyzers and reversible fuel cells. For water electrolyzer applications, single noble metal oxides such as ruthenium oxide and iridium oxide have been studied, and binary or ternary metal oxides have been developed to obtain synergistic effects of each component. On the other hand, a variety of bifunctional electrocatalysts with a combination of monofunctional electrocatalysts such as platinum for oxygen reduction and iridium oxide for oxygen evolution for reversible fuel cell applications have been mainly proposed. Practically, supported iridium oxide-on-platinum, its reverse type, and non-precious metal-supported platinum and iridium bifunctional electrocatalysts have been developed. Recent theoretical calculations and experimental studies in terms of water electrolysis and fuel cell technology suggest the effective ways to cope with current major challenges of cost and durability of oxygen electrocatalysts for technical applications.
Quality of community drinking water and the occurrence of spontaneous abortion

To investigate the relationship between community drinking water quality and spontaneous abortion, we compared trace element levels in the drinking water of 286 women having a spontaneous abortion through 27 wk gestation with that of 1,391 women having livebirths. Trace element levels were gathered from routine analyses of public tap water supplies from the communities where the women resided during pregnancy. After adjustment for potential confounders, an increase in the frequency of spontaneous abortion was associated with detectable levels of mercury; high levels of arsenic, potassium, and silica; moderately hard water, and surface water. In contrast, a decrease in the frequency of spontaneous abortion was associated with high levels of alkalinity and sulfate, and any detectable level of nitrate. These results require further corroboration because there is a paucity of data investigating this issue.
Sixteen novel mutations in the arylsulfatase A gene causing metachromatic leukodystrophy

Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a lysosomal storage disorder caused mainly by mutations in the arylsulfatase A (ARSA) gene. In this manuscript we report sixteen novel mutations identified in the ARSA gene of fifteen unrelated patients affected with MLD. Of these 16 mutations nine were missense mutations (p.L11Q, p.S44P, p.L81P, p.R84L, p.V177D, p.P284S, p.R288S, p.G301R, p.P425S), three were nonsense mutations (p.Q51X, p.Y149X, p.C156X), three were frame shift mutations (c.28delG, c.105C>A+106_124dup, c.189delC) and one was a splice-site mutation (c.1102-2A>G). In addition, three previously reported mutations were identified on an allelic background different from the one in the original reports. Two mutations, p.G309S and p.E312D, were identified on the background of the so-called pseudodeficiency (Pd) allele while previously they were reported alone. On the other hand, mutation p.R311X was identified in two unrelated patients not in cis with the Pd mutations, as previously reported.
To the Cloud: Big Data in a turbulent world

Mosco (2004) used the term myth to describe the Network as a prominent storyline of contemporary society. In his new book To the Cloud, he continues to demystify the economy, culture, and discourse...
LABORATORY AND TEACHING DEVICES MADE FROM PLASTER OF PARIS.

A method has been described whereby models of septic tanks for teaching public health and oncometers for physiological demonstration and research may be constructed by employing a wire frame and covering it with plaster of Paris These models should prove especially useful to teachers in rural and suburban communities and to extension workers whose task it is to keep a vast number of our population informed as to the best measures of protecting their health These models may be rendered impervious to air and water by means of paraffin, varnish or brushing lacquer
Hybrid superaggregate morphology as a result of aggregation in a cluster-dense aerosol.

From the digitized pictures of soot clusters formed after the explosion of a hydrocarbon gas mixed with oxygen, the cluster morphology was determined by two different methods: structure factor and perimeter analysis. We find a hybrid, superaggregate morphology characterized by a fractal dimension of $D\ensuremath{\approx}1.8$ between the monomer size, ca. $50\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$, and $1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ and $D\ensuremath{\approx}2.6$ at larger length scales up to $\ensuremath{\sim}10\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$. The superaggregate morphology is a consequence of late-stage aggregation in a cluster-dense regime near a gel point.
Metal-metal bonding on surfaces: molecular orbital study of Pd/Ti(001) and Pd/Ru(001)

Abstract The interaction of a Pd atom with Ti(001), Ru(001) and Pd(111) surfaces has been studied using semiempirical MO-SCF calculations (INDO/1) and cluster models. In addition, the electronic properties of the diatomic PdTi, PdRu and Pd 2 molecules have been examined using ab initio SCF calculations. The results of the calculations indicate that the charge transfer in the Pd-Ti and Pd-Ru bonds is small. For supported Pd monolayers, the Pd-substrate bonds can be described as mainly metallic, with a small degree of ionic character. Adsorption of Pd on an early transition metal induces a reduction in the electron population of the Pd(4d) orbitals by: (1) charge transfer from Pd to the metal substrate, and (2) rehybridization of the Pd(4d,5s,5p) levels. The magnitude of both phenomena increases when the fraction of empty orbitals in the valence band of the metal substrate rises. The Pd(4d) → Pd(5s,5p) electron transfer plays an important role in the strength of the bimetallic bonds: the larger this rehybridization, the stronger the Pd-substrate bond. Electronic perturbations induced by Ti or Ru on Pd reduce the CO-chemisorption ability of Pd by weakening simultaneously the Pd(4d)-CO(2π ∗ ) and Pd(5s,5p)-CO(5σ) bonding interactions. For adsorption of CO on supported Pd, the π back-donation and strength of the Pd-CO bond decrease when the fraction of empty states in the valence band of the support increases.
The heat capacity of solid and liquid polystyrene, p-substituted polystyrenes, and crosslinked polystyrenes

Heat capacities were measured for poly(4-methylstyrene) [300–500K], poly(4-fluorostyrene) [130–350K], poly(4-chlorostyrene) [300–550K], poly(4-bromostyrene) [300–550K], poly(4-iodostyrene) [300–550K] and poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) with 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 wt.% divinylbenzene (technical grade) [300–550K]. Polystyrene and poly(α-methylstyrene) data were found to match the ATHAS data bank collections. Crosslinking causes no significant change in heat capacity, but substitution does. The heat capacities in the solid state are evaluated using approximate group and skeletal vibration spectra. Glass transitions are discussed, and full thermodynamic functions (Cp, H, S, G) can be calculated for amorphous, crystalline, and deuterated polystyrene as well as poly(α-methylstyrene). Glassy polystyrene has an entropy of 7.5 J K−1 mol−1 at absolute zero. Changes of the heat capacity at the glass transition are explained and are predicted to go to zero for 50% poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) at about 550K.
Performance of commercial nonmethane hydrocarbon analyzers in monitoring oxygenated volatile organic compounds emitted from animal feeding operations

Quantifying non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) from animal feeding operations (AFOs) is challenging due to the broad spectrum of compounds and the polar nature of the most abundant compounds. The purpose of this study was to determine the performance of commercial NMHC analyzers for measuring volatile organic compounds (VOCs) commonly emitted from AFOs. Three different NMHC analyzers were tested for response to laboratory generated VOCs, and two were tested in the field at a commercial poultry facility. The NMHC analyzers tested included gas chromatography/flame ionization detector (GC/FID), photoacoustic infrared (PA-IR) and photoionization detector (PID). The GC/FID NHHC analyzer was linear in response to non-polar compounds, but detector response to polar oxygenated compounds were lower than expected due to poor peak shape on the column. The PA-IR NMHC instrument responded well to the calibration standard (propane), methanol, and acetone, but it performed poorly with larger alcohols and ketones and aceton...
Modelling Tensile Strain Response in Asphalt Pavements: Bottom-up and/or Top-down Fatigue Crack Initiation

ABSTRACT Traditionally, HMA pavement designs and modeling methods have historically been based on the fundamental assumption that fatigue cracking generally initiates at the bottom of the HMA layer due to excessive tensile stresses/strains, and then propagates upwards to the surface. However, fatigue cracking can either be bottom-up or top-down initiated depending on the location of the maximum horizontal tensile stresses and strains in the HMA layer. Various factors such as the pavement structure and wheel/tire loading configurations influence both the location and magnitude of the fatigue crack-related tensile strains that are induced in the HMA layer. In this study, the influence of these factors on the tensile strains responses and potential location of fatigue crack initiation in HMA pavements was investigated. To address the non-uniformity distribution of the tire-pavement contact pressure (TPCP), including the vertical tire-pavement contact pressure and horizontal tire-pavement stress, a three-dime...
Prevalence and outcomes of comorbid metabolic and cardiovascular conditions in middle- and older-age adults.

Abstract To estimate age group differences in the prevalence and outcomes of three common and often comorbid metabolic conditions (i.e., obesity, hypertension, and diabetes) and heart disease. Design: Nationally representative prospective cohort study. Setting: Participants' homes. Participants: 9825 adults aged 51 to 61 years (middle-age) in 1992, and 7370 adults aged 70 years and over (older-age) in 1993. Measurements: Two-year dichotomous outcomes included: doctor visits, hospitalization, mobility difficulty, activity of daily living limitation, poor perceived health, and mortality. Odds ratios (OR) were adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and history of cancer or lung disease. Results: Those with one condition represented 80% and 70% of the middle- and older-age groups, respectively, while just 1–2% of each age group reported all three metabolic conditions. Thirteen percent and 32%, respectively, reported heart disease with or without metabolic conditions. Diabetes comorbid with other metabolic conditions, and particularly with heart disease, substantially elevated the risk of adverse outcomes such as health-related quality of life deficits, health services use, and mortality in both middle- and older-age adults. In the middle-age group, the OR was 6.81 for mortality in patients with a combination of obesity and diabetes and 6.10 in those with a combination of heart disease and diabetes. There also were significant ORs for mortality in middle-aged patients with heart disease (OR = 2.40), diabetes (OR = 2.63) and for those with a combination of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes (OR = 3.26). Conclusion: The impact of these often comorbid conditions underscores the importance of targeted and aggressive prevention, particularly among middle-age adults.