cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Forecasting automobile sales

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand the behavior of the automotive industry which is very critical to avoid major economic disruptions in the economy. To understand this industry, one needs to understand its historical performance in relation to many economic factors that may affect the industry.Design/methodology/approach – Data about automobile sales (in dollars and in units) and many economic and demographic variables are collected from a variety of sources. Automobile sales are the dependent variable. However, the variable of automobile sales is divided into foreign and domestic car makers. The data are regressed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) stepwise regression to obtain highly correlated variables.Findings – The results indicate a strong relationship between the economic variables and foreign car sales, but the relationship between the economic variables and domestic car sales is weak. The domestic cars sales relationship to the other economic variables sh...
Improved measurement of ttZ couplings at the CERN LHC

We consider QCD t{bar t}Z production at the LHC with Z {yields} {bar {nu}}{nu} and all-hadronic t{bar t} decays, i.e. pp {yields} p{sub T}b{bar b}+4 jets, as a tool to measure ttZ couplings. This channel has a significantly larger cross section than those where the Z boson decays leptonically. However, t{bar t}, b{bar b} + 4 jet, t{bar t}j and t{bar t}jj production give rise to potentially large backgrounds. We show that these processes can be suppressed to an acceptable level with suitable cuts, and find that adding the p{sub T} b{bar b} + 4 jet channel to the final states used in previous ttZ couplings analyses will improve the sensitivity by 10-60%. We also discuss how the measurement of the ttZ couplings may constrain Little Higgs models.
Estimating the incidence of wrongdoing and whistle-blowing: Results of a study using randomized response technique

Student cheating and reporting of that cheating represents one form of organizational wrong-doing and subsequent whistle-blowing, in the context of an academic organization. Previous research has been hampered by a lack of information concerning the validity of survey responses estimating the incidence of organizational wrongdoing and whistle-blowing. An innovative method, the Randomized Response Technique (RRT), was used here to assess the validity of reported incidences of wrongdoing and whistle-blowing. Surprisingly, our findings show that estimates of these incidences did not vary significantly when RRT questionnaire results were compared to those obtained from standard surveys. In fact, a large number of business undergraduates admitted cheating while only a small percentage reported peers' cheating when they observed it. These results should be sobering for managers and their implications are considered in some detail.
Simulation and Optimization of a Pressure Swing Adsorption System: Recovering Hydrogen from Methane

Recent developments in the fuel cell industry have yielded an increase in expected demand for a pure hydrogen source; one attractive method for meeting this demand involves separating hydrogen from a hydrogen-methane mixture using pressure swing adsorption (PSA). In designing PSA systems, the selection of the adsorbent and operational flowsheet are the most important and limiting decisions; beyond this, implementing systematic methods to find optimal operating conditions and bed parameters is essential. These decision variables include flowrates, bed pressures, step times and bed dimensions. This research examines this PSA system via dynamic simulation and optimization; the primary purpose of the optimization is to maximize the recovery of the key components while meeting both the hydrogen purity and cyclic steady state requirements. In this study, the process model is formulated for this separation using gPROMS. The model discretizes the spatial domain, and binary variables are used to adjust the boundary conditions for the bed as the system runs through the four-step PSA cycle. Two alternative PSA cycles are simulated, optimized and compared to assess the best performance for this PSA separation.
Sources and mechanisms of DPOAE generation: implications for the prediction of auditory sensitivity.

Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) have become a commonly used clinical tool for assessing cochlear health status, in particular, the integrity of the cochlear amplifier or motor component of cochlear function. Predicting hearing thresholds from OAEs, however, remains a research challenge. Models and expe
Mechanisms for phase distortion in a traveling wave tube.

We present a view of the physics of phase distortion in a traveling wave tube (TWT) based on unique insights afforded by the MUSE models of a TWT [J. W\"ohlbier, J. Booske, and I. Dobson, IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 30, 1063 (2002)]. The conclusion, supported by analytic theory and simulations, is that prior to gain compression phase distortion is due to harmonic frequencies in the electron beam and the resulting ``intermodulation'' frequency at the fundamental, and not the often cited ``slowing down of electrons in the electron beam.'' We draw these conclusions based on MUSE simulations that allow explicit control of electron beam frequency content, an analytic solution to the S-MUSE model [J. W\"ohlbier, J. Booske, and I. Dobson, IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 30, 1063 (2002)] that reveals that phase distortion is due to the fact that the fundamental frequency is an intermodulation product of itself, and large signal LATTE [J. W\"ohlbier, J. Booske, and I. Dobson, IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 30, 1063 (2002)] simulations that are modified to remove the effect of the slowing down of electrons in the electron beam. As applications of the theory we compare S-MUSE simulations to an amplitude phase model using the analytic phase transfer curve, we study dependence of phase distortion on circuit dispersion and electron beam parameters at the second harmonic with large signal LATTE simulations for narrow and wide band TWT designs, and we consider the phase distortion theory in the context of TWT linearization.
An O(n)-time self-stabilizing leader election algorithm

A self-stabilizing asynchronous distributed leader election algorithm is presented. The algorithm works for any connected unoriented (bidirectional) network with unique IDs. The solution also constructs a BFS tree of the network rooted at the elected leader. The proposed solution is silent and works under the unfair daemon. The algorithm stabilizes in O(n) rounds, where n is the number of processes in the network.
Disclosure of HIV seropositivity to sexual partners: An application of social cognitive theory *

The present study used social cognitive theory to examine self-disclosure of HIV seropositivity to sexual partners in a sample of 223 HIV-positive individuals. Participants were primarily male, Caucasian, gay or bisexual, with an average age of 36 years. Eighty-two percent of the sample disclosed their serostatus to at least one sexual partner in the past 4 months; however, disclosure rates varied by gender, partner type, and number of partners. Multiple regression analyses predicting disclosure behavior on the basis of social cognitive variables revealed the significance of self-efficacy and outcome expectancies. These findings suggest the clinical importance of focusing on the enhancement of self-efficacy and positive outcome expectancies as techniques to assist clients with self-disclosure of HIV serostatus to sexual partners.
Quasi-Living Cationic Polymerization of Styrene and Isobutylene: Measurement of Run Number and Calculation of Apparent Rate Constant of Ionization by TiCl4

The run number (RN), the average number of monomer units added per ionization−termination cycle, was measured at −70 °C from first-order kinetic data for cationic quasi-living polymerization of styrene and isobutylene initiated with 5-tert-butyl-1,3-bis(2-chloro-2-propyl)benzene (bDCC)/TiCl4 in 60/40 MCHex/MeCl, via analysis of an initiation event termed rapid monomer consumption (RMC). RMC is characterized by an initial period of high polymerization rate followed by slower first-order decay in monomer concentration and is due to a larger ionization rate for the initiator compared to that for the polymer chain end. Styrene RN was found to decrease with increasing initiator concentration while that for isobutylene remained relatively unchanged; the dependence of styrene RN on initiator concentration was attributed to chain transfer to initiator during RMC. RN in the limit of zero initiator concentration was determined to be 39 and 4.7 for 0.5 M styrene and isobutylene, respectively. Apparent rate constants...
Remembrance Today: Poppies, Grief and Heroism

Rituals and traditions for honouring fallen soldiers in contemporary Britain have strayed away from their original meanings and lost their focus on the individual dead. Ted Harrison provocatively a...
Clinical Value of Combined Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Imaging in the Interpretation of 2-Deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro- d -glucose–Positron Emission Tomography Studies in Cancer Patients

Positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) is a new imaging modality that provides exact coregistration of anatomic and metabolic data. We have investigated to what degree this new technique might affect the interpretation of PET images in a nonselected group of consecutive cancer patients, reflecting routine condition in a busy cancer center. Whole-body 2-deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro-d-glucose (FDG)–PET and PET/CT fusion image sets were compared in 100 consecutive, nonselected patients: 21 with head and neck cancer, 39 with chest malignancies, and 40 with malignancies of the abdomen and pelvis. All studies were performed for primary staging or evaluation of therapy and were interpreted by two nuclear medicine physicians also trained in radiology. Areas of abnormal FDG uptake were identified on PET and graded as likely benign, equivocal, or likely malignant. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography fusion images were then made available, and the initial findings were amended if necessary. One hundred sixty-six areas with abnormal FDG uptake were identified. Based on PET alone, 51 sites were considered equivocal for malignancy. With PET/CT, the number of equivocal lesions decreased to 24. This difference is more marked in the head and neck as well as the abdomen and pelvis. When the equivocal sites were included in the analysis and grouped with the malignant sites, positive predictive value (PPV) of PET/CT was 89% compared with 75% for PET (p = 0.04). Combined PET/CT results in increased reader confidence and 53% fewer equivocal readings, as well as improved PPV compared with PET alone.
Recognition and Location of Pinchout Boundaries by Pressure Transient Analysis

Since many oil and gas reservoirs are supposed to contain pinchout boundaries, there appears to be a need to determine the effect of such boundaries on the reservoir pressure performance and, if possible, to determine their properties and position. Both proved possible in this investigation. Solution to the problem hinges on accomplishing representation of the unusual wedge-shaped boundaries. Superposition may be performed in the usual manner, so that ''image'' wells form a polygon of line source segments. The results reveal a simple method of distinguishing between a pinchout and a constant-pressure boundary since a normal semilog graph may not show a clear distinction between the two. 1 ref.
TPN and Mn-isocitrate protect isocitrate dehydrogenase against inactivation but increase the number of modified sulfhydryl groups.

Summary A complete loss of enzymatic activity results from incubation of methylmethanethiolsulfonate with isocitrate dehydrogenase in the absence of metal ions or substrates. This loss is accompanied by the statistical modification of one of the six sulfhydryl groups on the enzyme as monitored by incorporation of [14C] methanethio groups. Therefore, the modifiable cysteinyl group is implicated in the catalytic activity of the enzyme. When Mn-isocitrate or TPN are present, the enzyme is completely protected against inactivation by methylmethanethiolsulfonate. In fact, the specific activity is increased 20–40%. Enzyme protected from inactivation in this manner incorporates about two [14C] methanethio groups. Thus, the presence of the substrates Mn-isocitrate and/or TPN exposes more sulfhydryl groups for modification but these residues are not implicated in catalysis. The substrates TPNH or α-ketoglutarate do not protect isocitrate dehydrogenase from inactivation by the aforementioned reagent.
The unique roles of affect and impulsivity in the prediction of skin picking severity

Abstract Previous research has consistently shown that skin picking severity is related to levels of impulsivity, thus justifying the classification of Skin Picking Disorder (SPD) as an Impulsive Control Disorder. However, the American Psychiatric Association has proposed that SPD be categorized as an obsessive–compulsive and related disorder (OCRD). This decision is supported by a mixed body of data, which shows that SPD might be related to symptoms of negative affectivity (e.g., anxiety and depression) and compulsivity. To date, no study has simultaneously tested the relations between impulsivity, negative affectivity, and skin picking; therefore the unique associations between these constructs in still unknown. The present study tested the degree to which skin picking severity is related to specific components of impulsivity and negative affectivity. Results indicated that skin picking severity was significantly related to cognitive impulsivity and was not uniquely related to any other components of impulsivity or any components of negative affectivity. Moreover, this effect was restricted to participants who endorsed self-injurious skin picking. These results support the categorization of SPD as an Impulsive Control Disorder, but fail to support the categorization of SPD as an OCRD. Limitation and future directions are discussed.
An easy way to prepare microskin grafts

The conventional technique to produce microskin grafts is a relatively time-consuming procedure. We developed an easy method by using a trimmed circular dermacarrier with the non-grooved side up and driving forward in the meshgraft instrument through six different angles that were 30° apart. The tiny skin particles obtained by this method not only saved operation time but also survived well in the grafted wounds.
Sex Chromosomes in Lizards

Karyotypes of many species of the genus Sceloporus support the generalization that there are no morphologically recognizable sex chromosomes in lizards; however, there is a marked sexual dimorphism in the karyotypes of Sceloporus jarrovi and Sceloporus poinsetti. During meiosis in males, whose diploid number of chromosomes is 31, preferential segregation of chromosomes from a trivalent results in heterogamety.
Flow model for predicting normal shock wave induced vortex breakdown

An analytical study of normal shock wave induced vortex breakdown has been undertaken. In this inviscid axisymmetric analysis, the response of supersonic streamwise vortices to imposed normal shocks has been determined by modeling the rotational core of the vortex as a slender, swirling layer. For vortex/shock combinations of increasing strength, the analysis predicts an ever increasing axial velocity deficit in the vortex core. Vortex breakdown is presumed to occur if a vortex/shock combination Leads to how stagnation at the vortex axis. The results of this study indicate that an inverse relationship exists between vortex swirl and freestream Mach number at breakdown. The breakdown limit curve generated using this analysis shows good correlation with established experimental results, indicating that the onset of normal shock wave induced vortex breakdown can be predicted with a relatively simple flow model and without recourse to numerical simulation. Interpretation of same normal shock wave/vortex interaction experiments in light of the predictions suggests that the phenomenon previously known as supersonic vortex distortion is a form of vortex breakdown.
Viscoelastic properties of soft gels: comparison of magnetic resonance elastography and dynamic shear testing in the shear wave regime

Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is used to quantify the viscoelastic shear modulus, G*, of human and animal tissues. Previously, values of G* determined by MRE have been compared to values from mechanical tests performed at lower frequencies. In this study, a novel dynamic shear test (DST) was used to measure G* of a tissue-mimicking material at higher frequencies for direct comparison to MRE. A closed-form solution, including inertial effects, was used to extract G* values from DST data obtained between 20 and 200 Hz. MRE was performed using cylindrical 'phantoms' of the same material in an overlapping frequency range of 100-400 Hz. Axial vibrations of a central rod caused radially propagating shear waves in the phantom. Displacement fields were fit to a viscoelastic form of Navier's equation using a total least-squares approach to obtain local estimates of G*. DST estimates of the storage G' (Re[G*]) and loss modulus G″ (Im[G*]) for the tissue-mimicking material increased with frequency from 0.86 to 0.97 kPa (20-200 Hz, n = 16), while MRE estimates of G' increased from 1.06 to 1.15 kPa (100-400 Hz, n = 6). The loss factor (Im[G*]/Re[G*]) also increased with frequency for both test methods: 0.06-0.14 (20-200 Hz, DST) and 0.11-0.23 (100-400 Hz, MRE). Close agreement between MRE and DST results at overlapping frequencies indicates that G* can be locally estimated with MRE over a wide frequency range. Low signal-to-noise ratio, long shear wavelengths and boundary effects were found to increase residual fitting error, reinforcing the use of an error metric to assess confidence in local parameter estimates obtained by MRE.
In this issue: community care, healing, and excellence in research.

This issue of the Annals features a special report[1][1] describing how Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC) has improved quality and reduced total costs for care of Medicaid patients during the last decade. CCNC is a system of community health networks led by local primary care physicians that
Role of the sport psychologist in treating injured athletes: A survey of sports medicine providers

Abstract Sports medicine physicians were surveyed regarding the role of the sport psychologist in treating injured athletes. Physicians' perceptions of the frequency of psychological problems in conjunction with athletic injuries and the appropriateness of referring injured athletes with various behavioral concerns were assessed. Information on physicians' past psychological referral behavior and satisfaction with such referrals was obtained. Results indicated that the physicians had a moderately positive attitude toward the involvement of sport psychologists in the sports medicine treatment team. Implications of the findings for the practice of sport psychology in sports medicine settings are discussed. Recommendations are given for increasing the level of awareness of the capabilities of sport psychologists in the sports medicine community.
The byzantine empire in the intercloud

The relevance of Byzantine fault tolerance in the context of cloud computing has been questioned [3]. While arguments against Byzantine fault tolerance seemingly makes sense in the context of a single cloud, i.e., a large-scale cloud infrastructure that resides under control of a single, typically commercial provider, these arguments are less obvious in a broader context of the Intercloud, i.e., a cloud of multiple, independent clouds.In this paper, we start from commonly acknowledged issues that impede the adoption of Byzantine fault tolerance within a single cloud, and argue that many of these issues fade when Byzantine fault tolerance in the Intercloud is considered.
Experimental study of an underactuated manipulator

Underactuated manipulators are a class of robotic mechanisms where passive joints are present. By controlling only the motion of the active joints, it is possible to control the entire system. Our goal is to develop control schemes using both classical nonlinear and modem learning techniques for underactuated manipulators. To examine the validity of the approaches, we developed an experimental setup known as U-ARM, or underactuated robot manipulator. In this paper we present the hardware development, dynamic parameters, control software and experimental results of real-time control of the U-ARM.
Path guidance control for a safer large scale dissipative haptic display

The properties of dissipative haptic displays allow larger workspaces that permit a whole body interaction useful for sports, rehabilitation, and large-scale object design applications. To that end we designed and constructed the brake actuated manipulator (BAM) with 2m3 workspace. Dissipative devices are capable of simulating virtual objects through resistance analogous to active devices. However, the challenge remains for path guidance paradigms because neither impedance nor admittance control can be used to actively steer limb movements. Here we first define a new way to create and track a path during path guidance with a twinned vector field to allow bilateral motion. Using this new path definition three controllers, velocity ratio, force cancelling, and force mapping are compared with and without visual feedback. The results indicate that both force controllers provide better guidance over velocity control; the force mapping technique resulted in the smoothest limb trajectory. The presence of visual feedback was found to be a critical factor for path guidance using dissipative devices.
Delayed Antagonism of Calpain Reduces Excitotoxicity in Cultured Neurons

Background and Purpose Glutamate receptor antagonists can produce protection against the neurotoxicity of excessive glutamate stimulation. However, antagonism of the postreceptor processes that produce cell damage may provide a longer window of opportunity for protecting neurons after the initiation of excitotoxic injury. Among various processes that have been thought to mediate the toxic effects of glutamate are activation of the Ca2+-dependent proteases calpain I and II and the activation of nitric oxide synthase. We tested the potential for neuroprotection by delayed application of calpain antagonists after excitotoxic treatment. Methods Primary cultures of cerebellar and hippocampal neurons were exposed to the glutamate receptor agonists kainate and N -methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) for 20-minute periods, and survival was examined by fluorescent assay after 24 hours. Enzyme antagonists were applied at various time points during this interval. Results The neurotoxic effects of NMDA in cultured hippocampal neurons and of kainate in cultured cerebellar neurons have been previously shown to be Ca2+ dependent. Here we show that in both of these examples of glutamate receptor–mediated toxicity, activation of a calpainlike proteolytic activity occurred, which was blocked by the calpain inhibitor MDL-28170. This inhibitor also limited the toxicity, even when applied at times up to 1 hour after the onset of the toxic exposure. Another protease inhibitor, E-64, also blocked the proteolysis and toxicity produced by kainate in cerebellar neurons. Blocking nitric oxide synthase activity after 1 hour with the antagonist N G-nitro-l-arginine was also protective of cerebellar and hippocampal neurons, as was the combination of MDL-28170 and N G-nitro-l-arginine. Conclusions The activation of calpain is among several enzymatic processes that contribute to the toxicity of glutamate receptor stimulation, and blocking these postreceptor mechanisms can be effective in protecting neurons from excitotoxicity at delayed time points.
Voltammetric Studies beyond the Solvent Limits with Microelectrodes

Etudes de la reduction electrochimique du nitrobenzene en l'absence de solvant diluant inerte et dans des melanges de nitrobenzenetoluene
Domain-domain associations in cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator.

Wang, Wenlan, Zhaoping He, Thomas J. O’Shaughnessy, John Rux, and William W. Reenstra. Domaindomain associations in cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 282: C1170–C1180, 2002. First published January 2, 2002; 10.1152/ajpcell.00337.2001.—Cystic fibrosis is caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. CFTR is a chloride channel whose activity requires protein kinase A-dependent phosphorylation of an intracellular regulatory domain (R-domain) and ATP hydrolysis at the nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs). To identify potential sites of domain-domain interaction within CFTR, we expressed, purified, and refolded histidine (His)and glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-tagged cytoplasmic domains of CFTR. ATP-binding to his-NBD1 and hisNBD2 was demonstrated by measuring tryptophan fluorescence quenching. Tryptic digestion of in vitro phosphorylated his-NBD1-R and in situ phosphorylated CFTR generated the same phosphopeptides. An interaction between NBD1-R and NBD2 was assayed by tryptophan fluorescence quenching. Binding among all pairwise combinations of R-domain, NBD1, and NBD2 was demonstrated with an overlay assay. To identify specific sites of interaction between domains of CFTR, an overlay assay was used to probe an overlapping peptide library spanning all intracellular regions of CFTR with his-NBD1, his-NBD2, and GST-R-domain. By mapping peptides from NBD1 and NBD2 that bound to other intracellular domains onto crystal structures for HisP, MalK, and Rad50, probable sites of interaction between NBD1 and NBD2 were identified. Our data support a model where NBDs form dimers with the ATP-binding sites at the domaindomain interface.
FOXP3 Inhibits Activation-Induced NFAT2 Expression in T Cells Thereby Limiting Effector Cytokine Expression

The forkhead DNA-binding protein FOXP3 is critical for the development and suppressive function of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (T(REG)), which play a key role in maintaining self-tolerance. Functionally, FOXP3 is capable of repressing transcription of cytokine genes regulated by NFAT. Various mechanisms have been proposed by which FOXP3 mediates these effects. Using novel cell lines that inducibly express either wild-type or mutant FOXP3, we have identified NFAT2 as an early target of FOXP3-mediated transcriptional repression. NFAT2 is typically expressed at low levels in resting T cells, but is up-regulated by NFAT1 upon cellular activation. We demonstrate that transcription from the NFAT2 promoter is significantly suppressed by FOXP3, and NFAT2 protein expression is markedly diminished in activated CD4(+)CD25(+)FOXP3(+) T(REG) compared with CD4(+)CD25(-)FOXP3(-) T cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments indicate that FOXP3 competes with NFAT1 for binding to the endogenous NFAT2 promoter. This antagonism of NFAT2 activity by FOXP3 is important for the anergic phenotype of T(REG), as ectopic expression of NFAT2 from a retroviral LTR partially restores expression of IL-2 in FOXP3(+) T(REG). These data suggest that FOXP3 functions not only to suppress the first wave of NFAT-mediated transcriptional responses, but may also affect sustained NFAT-mediated inflammatory gene expression through suppression of inducible NFAT2 transcription.
New onset postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome following ablation of AV node reentrant tachycardia

Background Autonomic dysfunction presenting as inappropriate sinus tachycardia has been reported to occur following slow pathway ablation for atrioventricular node tachycardia. We report on a series of patients who developed new onset postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) following successful radiofrequency ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). Methods The study was a retrospective analysis that was approved by our Institutional Review Board. Patients were identified from those seen at our Syncope and Autonomic Disorders Clinic. A total of six patients were identified who were previously healthy except for supraventricular tachycardia. Each was found to have AVNRT during electrophysiology study and each underwent successful radiofrequency modification of the slow atrioventricular nodal pathway. Following ablation each patient developed the new onset of symptoms of orthostatic intolerance consistent with POTS. Results After aninitial symptom-free period(3‐6 weeks)post ablation each patient began to experience symptoms of orthostatic intolerance. All six patients began to experience progressive severe fatigue. Orthostatic tachycardia was reported by five patients, syncope by three patients, and presyncope by all six patients. Each patient reported the occurrence of symptom while upright that were relieved by becoming supine. Each patient had experienced symptoms for greater than 6 months prior to being seen at our center. Three patients reported such severe symptoms of orthostatic tachycardia that they underwent repeat electrophysiology study; however, none had evidence of AVNRT. Each patient demonstrated a POTS response within the first 10 min of upright tilt with reproduction of their clinical symptoms that had occurred post ablation. Conclusion POTS may be a complication of radiofrequency ablation of AVNRT.
Evaluating testis function non-invasively: how epidemiologist–andrologist teams might better approach this task

Opinions herein focus on epidemiology-based publications using semen to study testis function, but several have broader applicability. 'Opinion 1': authors often fail to write out an explicit question(s) or hypothesis, and to stipulate how measured outcomes will be used to refute or support the hypothesis. Might critical thinking be lax? 'Opinion 2': authors often fail to consider the biology underlying a question or hypothesis, and/or which analytical methods really provide meaningful information or should be rejected. 'Opinion 3': spermatogenesis cannot be evaluated in a meaningful manner via conventional semen attributes. Quantitative evaluation of spermatogenesis requires a 'rate attribute', not provided by number of sperm per milliliter of semen or total number per ejaculate (TSperm). Influence of abstinence interval is under-appreciated. The rate attribute, TSperm per hour of abstinence (TSperm/h), meaningfully estimates sperm production if the abstinence interval is 42-60 h. Most attributes of individual sperm do not reflect quality at spermiation. 'Opinion 4': reliance on a single semen sample per subject might hamper detection of the association sought, because an imprecise value might not establish if a subject's testes were dysfunctional or not. 'Opinion 5': curve-fitting, to adjust quantitative data, for a sample provided after an abstinence interval falling within a broad range, to a standardized abstinence interval, distorts outcomes for many samples provided after approximately 60 h abstinence. TSperm values for individuals with good daily sperm production are artifactually low and those for individuals with poor daily sperm production are artifactually high. Hence, it is important to explain the importance of abstinence interval to participants and censor samples outside an acceptable 37-64 h abstinence range.
Metal-assisted exfoliation (MAE): green process for transferring graphene to flexible substrates and templating of sub-nanometer plasmonic gaps (Presentation Recording)

This paper describes a new technique, termed "metal-assisted exfoliation," for the scalable transfer of graphene from catalytic copper foils to flexible polymeric supports. The process is amenable to roll-to-roll manufacturing, and the copper substrate can be recycled. We then demonstrate the use of single-layer graphene as a template for the formation of sub-nanometer plasmonic gaps using a scalable fabrication process called “nanoskiving.” These gaps are formed between parallel gold nanowires in a process that first produces three-layer thin films with the architecture gold/single-layer graphene/gold, and then sections the composite films with an ultramicrotome. The structures produced can be treated as two gold nanowires separated along their entire lengths by an atomically thin graphene nanoribbon. Oxygen plasma etches the sandwiched graphene to a finite depth; this action produces a sub-nanometer gap near the top surface of the junction between the wires that is capable of supporting highly confined optical fields. The confinement of light is confirmed by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy measurements, which indicate that the enhancement of the electric field arises from the junction between the gold nanowires. These experiments demonstrate nanoskiving as a unique and easy-to-implement fabrication technique that is capable of forming sub-nanometer plasmonic gaps between parallel metallic nanostructures over long, macroscopic distances. These structures could be valuable for fundamental investigations as well as applications in plasmonics and molecular electronics.
Polycondensation equilibrium and the kinetics of the catalyzed transesterfication in the formation of polyethylene terephthalate

The polycondensation equilibrium constant for bis(β-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate was found to be 0.50. By means of this value for determining the relative reactivity of two kinds of hydroxyl groups, the kinetic data were found to fit a third-order reaction for the transesterification: one order each with respect to hydroxyl group, methoxy group, and catalyst. An order with respect to hydroxyl group, which had previously been in doubt, was proved in a series of experiments in which the concentration of ethylene glycol was varied. Third-order rate constants were determined for the reactions catalyzed by lead, zinc, and calcium salts, and the activation energies were found to be 12.5, 15.0, and 14.5 kcal./mole, respectively. The results are consistent with the author's theory of aromatic transition states and are difficult to explain on the basis of ionic theories of reaction mechanism.
Why health is not special: errors in evolved bioethics intuitions.

There is a widespread feeling that health is special; the rules that are usually used in other policy areas are not applied in health policy. Health economists, for example, tend to be reluctant to offer economists' usual prescription of competition and consumer choice, even though they have largely failed to justify this reluctance by showing that health economics involves special features such as public goods, externalities, adverse selection, poor consumer information, or unusually severe consequences.
Workup for Proteinuria

The kidney has anatomic and physiologic features that prevent protein from reaching the urine. In disease processes, this natural mechanism is disrupted, causing protein to leak into the urine. Proteinuria can be used as a marker for disease and disease progression. The general anatomy of the glomerulus along with preliminary workup to evaluate disease based on history, physical and urinalysis results are reviewed in this article. Examples of commonly encountered diseases in the outpatient setting and relevance of proteinuria in chronic kidney disease along with general complications and treatments are also reviewed.
A resonant clock generator for single-phase adiabatic systems

Recently discovered high-speed single-phase adiabatic logic families require efficient sinusoidal power-clock generators. In this paper we propose a low-power resonant clock-generator built around a zero-voltage switching push-pull power conversion topology. We describe a novel energy-efficient control circuit for this power converter, based on an asynchronous CMOS state machine. We also describe an integrated submicron CMOS implementation of our power converter and control circuits. Simulation results show efficiencies in excess of 90%, even under suboptimal tuning conditions, for frequencies over 200 MHz. We have fabricated our clock generator in a 0.5 /spl mu/m standard CMOS process. Using an external surface-mount inductor as the resonant element, we have verified the correct operation of the clock generator when driving a single-phase adiabatic 8-bit multiplier.
A Compatible LZMA ORC-Based Optimization for High Performance Big Data Load

This paper presents several efficient ways to improve data loading and storage optimization in Hadoop cluster. We design a new method to leverage LZMA and ORC to gain performance edge, also improve ORC implementation in HDFS to have a higher compression ratio and better IO throughput. A complete optimization strategy for efficient big data loading, including byte array-oriented, record split, less serialization and shuffle, reducing middle data landing to earn great performance boost is presented. This paper provides preliminary results and analytics. Evaluation results indicate that our method achieves significant performance improvement for big data load.
A cost-minimization analysis of intracervical prostaglandin E2 for cervical ripening in an outpatient versus inpatient setting

This investigation was undertaken to compare the cost impact of prostaglandin E2 gel delivered intracervically in an outpatient versus an inpatient setting. Eligible pregnant women with a singleton gestation that was beyond 37 weeks gestational age and who had an unfavorable cervix (Bishop score < or = 4) received a single dose of 0.5 mg of prostaglandin E2 intracervically as an outpatient or one or more doses as an inpatient the day before a scheduled induction of labor. After gel placement, the outpatient group was monitored for 2 hours with electronic fetal monitoring before being sent home, while the inpatient group was monitored for 2 hours in a labor and delivery unit and then sent to the maternity unit overnight. The outpatient (n = 40) and inpatient (n = 36) groups were not different in terms of maternal age, race, parity, gestational age, maternal weight, predose Bishop score, or indication for delivery. Patients in the outpatient group incurred significantly less costs ($3835.00 +/- 2172.00 vs $5049.00 +/- 2060.00) and time (74.4 +/- 33.1 hours vs 100.3 +/- 41.6 hours) in the hospital than did patients in the inpatient group. Multiparous patients in the outpatient group, compared with those in the inpatient group, spent fewer total hours in the hospital (56.6 +/- 19.3 vs 90.3 +/- 41.0 hours) and had a lower hospital cost ($2891.00 +/- 1236.00 vs $4704.00 +/- 2100.00). The only difference between the nulliparous groups favored outpatient therapy because of less intrapartum expenses ($730.00 +/- 405.00 vs $1036.00 +/- 487.00). There were no differences between the inpatient and outpatient groups for the frequencies of failed inductions, abnormal fetal heart rate patterns, and cesarean sections. No adverse maternal or neonatal effects with therapy were encountered in either setting. Substantial cost savings were found with prostaglandin E2 therapy in an outpatient rather than an inpatient setting for patients who required an induction of labor and were candidates for outpatient cervical ripening.
Out-of-plane photon compensation for 3-D SPECT image reconstruction with generalized matrix inverses

A computationally efficient 3-D image reconstruction method which compensates for detected out-of-plane photons has been developed for SPECT image reconstruction with generalized matrix inverses (GMI). Fully 3-D image reconstruction is approximated by a series of coupled 2-D image reconstructions for projection data acquired with parallel hole collimators, significantly reducing computer memory requirements. In this method, projection data are compensated for detected scattered photons using dual energy window scatter subtraction (Step 1). An initial source activity estimate in each transverse plane is then made using line source response functions in the system matrix (Step 2). With these activity estimates the contributions of out-of-plane unscattered photons are modeled and subtracted from the projection data, and an updated source activity estimate is computed (Step 3). For noise-free projection data from a Monte Carlo simulated myocardial perfusion study, lesion contrast increases and activity spillover from the myocardium into the adjacent cardiac blood pool is reduced. For projection data with Poisson noise, activity estimates from Step 3 are inferior to those from Step 2. One reason is that the relative noise level of the projection data is substantially increased by subtracting the estimated out-of-plane contribution. The Step 3 activity estimation is also sensitive to the source activity distribution used for out-of-plane unscattered photon compensation. Though the out-of-plane compensation technique of Step 3 provides some benefit for noise-free projection data, this study suggests that it may not be well-suited for practical application to count-limited clinical SPECT studies. >
Numerical results for ground states of mean-field spin glasses at low connectivities

An extensive list of results for the ground-state properties of spin glasses on random graphs is presented. These results provide a timely benchmark for currently developing theoretical techniques based on replica symmetry breaking that are being tested on mean-field models at low connectivity. Comparison with existing replica results for such models verifies the strength of those techniques. Yet, we find that spin glasses on fixed-connectivity graphs (Bethe lattices) exhibit a richer phenomenology than has been anticipated by theory. Our data prove to be sufficiently accurate to speculate about some exact results.
Three Existentlal Contributions to a Theory of Lifestyles

This article explores three potential existential contributions to an evolving theory of human lifestyles. Following a brief review of the impact existential psychology has had on current thinking in the behavioral sciences, the three Cs of lifestyle theory-conditions, choice, and cognition-are discussed with respect to several key existential concepts, most notably, existential fear, intentionality, and the power of nonempirical thought. It is argued that the continued viability of existential psychology and lifestyle theory rests with their ability to generate concepts and hypotheses not readily available from more currently popular behavioral science theories.
Ambidextrous Strategies and Innovation Priorities: Adequately Priming the Pump for Continual Innovation

The dynamic and unpredictable nature of the market has caused many organizations within rapidly changing industries to fail. These failures are, in part, due to a lack of continual and balanced innovation that firms should aim to achieve. That is, although firms may succeed at either refining existing competencies for incremental innovations or exploring new opportunities for radical innovations, many firms have experienced great difficulty in simultaneously pursuing and realizing success in both areas. This innovation imbalance arises when firms stick to traditional strategic notions of competition in fast-moving industries; these firms have not realized that the ability to compete in current and new markets begins with the strategies and priorities that are responsible for the very nature of innovation capabilities. The purpose of this study is to offer a reconceptualization of notions related to organizational strategy that are responsible for driving innovation capabilities. Specifically, this study develops a continual innovation framework that illustrates the impact ambidextrous strategies and priorities have on the firm’s ambidextrous innovation capability. It offers a modified concept of ambidexterity (i.e., exploration, exploitation, coordination) to reconceptualize business, marketing, and information-systems strategies as ambidextrous strategy constructs. The article also discusses the relationships between constructs and the implications of this reconceptualization for researchers and managers. Plans are nothing. Planning is everything.
Endometrial Cancer Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Receptor (IGF1R) Expression Increases with Body Mass Index and Is Associated with Pathologic Extent and Prognosis

Background: Obesity is a main risk factor for endometrial carcinoma (EC). Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) expression may influence this association. Methods: IGF1R IHC was performed on a tissue microarray with 894 EC and scored according to the percentage and intensity of staining to create immunoreactivity scores, which were dichotomized into low and high IGF1R expression groups. Logistic regression modeling assessed associations with body mass index (BMI), age, histology, pathologic extent of disease (pT), and lymph node metastasis (pN). Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were compared between IGF1R expression groups using Kaplan–Meier curves and log-rank tests. Results: The proportion of patients with high IGF1R expression increased as BMI (<30, 30–39, and 40+ kg/m2) increased ( P = 0.002). The adjusted odds of having high IGF1R expression was 1.49 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05–2.10, P = 0.024] for patients with BMI 30 to 39 kg/m2 compared with <30 kg/m2 and 1.62 (95% CI, 1.13–2.33, P = 0.009) for patients with BMI 40+ kg/m2 compared with <30 kg/m2. High IGF1R expression was associated with pT and pN univariately and with pT after adjusting for BMI, pN, age, and histologic subtype. DFS and OS were better with high IGF1R expression, P = 0.020 and P = 0.002, respectively, but DFS was not significant after adjusting for pT, pN, and histologic subtype of the tumor. Conclusions: There is an association between BMI and EC IGF1R expression. Higher IGF1R expression is associated with lower pT and better DFS and OS. Impact: These findings suggest a link between IGF1R EC expression and obesity, as well as IGF1R expression and survival. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 25(3); 438–45. ©2015 AACR . This article is featured in Highlights of This Issue, [p. 427][1] [1]: /lookup/volpage/25/427?iss=3
Heterogenous and autogenous-tendon transplants. An experimental study of preserved bovine-tendon transplants in dogs and autogenous-tendon transplants in dogs.

Young heterogenous bovine tendons preserved in homologous plasma and irradiated, frozen, fetal bovine tendons transplanted in dogs cause reactions which differ only slightly from those associated with autogenous-tendon transplants in dogs. All transplants underwent necrosis but acted as struts, which were replaced by tenoblasts from the stumps of the host. See Images in the PDF File
“A Record of Our Lives”: Anthologizing the Lesbian in India

Facing the Mirror: Lesbian Writing from India (1999) is an anthology of ninety-nine narratives by authors who appear under first names, initials, pseudonyms, or, in a few cases, full names. The styles of the writings range from nascent academic arguments to conversational, casual, or reflective narratives. Most are very short. The genres of the narratives exist, in editor Ashwini Sukthankar's words, “in the free confluence of fiction, essay, poetry, and memoir.” The contributors' anonymity, diverse styles, and jumble of genres collectively ensure that the authors' statuses as professional writers cannot be easily determined, except to the conjecture that these are everyday women who occupy a range of professions: activists and journalists; novice writers and published authors; performers and artists of various stripes; middle-class homemakers; and professional women, including servants. Sukthankar casts the anthology as “a tribute to writing as a record of our [lesbian] lives,” the purpose of which is “to...