cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Secure Communication in Adverse Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

The vision of nomadic computing with its ubiquitous access has stimulated much interest in the Mobile Ad Hoc Networking (MANET) technology. Those infrastructure-less, self-organized networks that either operate autonomously or as an extension to the wired networking infrastructure, are expected to support new MANET-based applications. However, the proliferation of this networking paradigm strongly depends on the availability of security provisions, among other factors. The absence of infrastructure, the nature of the envisioned applications, and the resource-constrained environment pose some new challenges in securing the protocols in the ad hoc networking environments. Moreover, the security requirements can differ significantly from those for infrastructure-based networks, while the provision of security enhancements may take completely different directions as well. In particular, practically any node in the open, collaborative MANET environment can abuse the network operation and disrupt or deny communication. In this paper we introduce our approach to this multifaceted and intriguing problem: a set of protocols that secure the fundamental networking operations of routing and data transmission. Moreover, we survey solutions that address the management of trust in ad hoc networks.
Harvest Cost and Citrus Mechanization: Real Options Approach with Least Squares Monte Carlo Simulation

The prospect of immigration policy reform has renewed growers' concerns of serious labor shortages and cost increases because a large portion (at least 53%) of the workforce in agriculture is unauthorized for U.S. employment. This concern of labor cost increase is more serious for specialty crop agriculture, not only because it is highly labor intensive, but also it requires labor in a very short period, particularly at harvest time. Agricultural employers may address the increased labor cost, especially harvest cost in various ways, but likely options include adoption of mechanical harvesting. If we focus on adoption of mechanical harvesting, the most imminent effect of immigration policy reform might be on crops mainly used for processing for which labor-intensive technology is currently employed, but an alternative, less labor-intensive technology is already developed. Florida citrus is a current example of a major specialty crop with these characteristics. In addition, the Florida citrus industry is facing many difficulties, from recent hurricanes to new diseases to increased international competition, all of which may urge immediate mechanization of harvesting operation intended for cost reduction. Currently, the estimated cost of mechanical harvesting of Florida oranges for juice processing suggests a significant cost advantage over hand harvesting, but the adoption of mechanical harvesting systems remains relatively low at about 7.5% of the Florida orange acreage. In order to study the mechanization-investment decision by the Florida citrus farmers, we firstly estimate the value for two operational modes (hand and mechanical harvesting) using the net present value (NPV) approach. While, the NPV approach simply compares NPVs from the two operational modes, the real options approach (ROA), which applies financial option theory for investment in real assets, assumes that the farmer does not invest until the NPV of the mechanical harvesting operation is greater than that of the current operation by margin of the option value of investment. Option valuation with early exercise features with multiple stochastic factors has the so-called dimensionality problem. The ROA study for the Florida citrus mechanization is one of these cases since there are at least four stochastic factors: price, yield, production cost, and harvest cost. We overcome this dimensionality problem by using the least squares Monte Carlo simulation (Longstaff and Schwartz 2001) which solves the dynamic optimization problem posed by the Bellman equation, where the value of continuation is computed on the basis of a regression on cross-sectional data.
The Physiology and Biochemistry of Adrenarche

Adrenarche refers to the rise in adrenal 19- carbon steroid production, primarily dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA sulfate (DHEAS). Adrenarche, which occurs only in humans and a few higher primates, is independent of puberty and manifests clinically as the appearance of axillary and pubic hair, usually about age 8. The physiologic correlate of adrenarche is the development of the adrenal zona reticularis, which has many of the biochemical properties of the fetal adrenal. Recent studies have shown that adrenarche is not an abrupt and 'signaled' process occurring in mid childhood but rather a continuous process since birth. In addition, some differences in gene expression between the zona reticularis and the fetal adrenal gland have begun to emerge. The purpose of adrenarche in human physiology remains enigmatic, although disease states associated with abnormalities in DHEA(S) production provide some clues.
Photometric variability of main-sequence stars from Wilson's survey

Using b,y differential photometry, we are determining the incidence of variability among three dozen F3-K7 main sequence stars previously monitored in H+K emission by Olin Wilson. Our sample includes stars that exhibit the full range of chromospheric activity and cyclical behavior observed in H+K plus a few constant H+K standards. Most of the stars in our program continue to be observed regularly in H+K at Mount Wilson by Duncan and his coworkers, so that for a brief time, at least, parallel records of Ca II and luminosity variations will be obtained. Previously, Lockwood et al. (1984) and Duncan et al. (1984) established a statistical relationship between Ca II emission and continuum flux for Hyades stars F4 V to KI V. Furthermore, there are tantalizing, but insufficient data to suggest a time delay between Ca II and luminosity variation (Radick, private communication), in the sense (invoking the solar phenomenon) that spots precede plage in the direction of rotation.
Optimizing prostate cancer detection during biopsy by standardizing the amount of tissue examined per core.

Study Type – Diagnostic (exploratory cohort) Level of Evidence 2b What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? The main goal of a prostate biopsy is to identify clinically relevant prostate cancer with the lowest possible morbidity from the procedure. Over time, many have tried different variations in the procedure in an attempt to find the optimal methodology for performing prostate biopsies. These changes include better equipment in helping optimize cancer localization, varying the number of cores in efforts to improve cancer detection, and sampling various areas of the prostate to find cancer that might be difficult to identify. To our knowledge we are the first to describe performing prostate biopsies by keeping the sampling size constant and varying the number of cores based on the size of the prostate. The study adds a variation in the current techniques used for prostate biopsies. In certain situations, using a standard number of cores makes obtaining proper sampling of a prostate difficult. We propose a methodology in performing prostate biopsies that will allow for standardization of the tissue per core analysed, thus improving the sampling of the prostate. OBJECTIVE • To investigate the effect on cancer detection by varying the number of cores taken for prostate biopsy according to the size of the prostate. PATIENTS AND METHODS • A retrospective review of a prospectively registered prostate biopsy database identified 3040 consecutive patients undergoing prostate biopsy at a Veterans Administration Hospital between 1994 and 2008. • Of 2224 biopsies, 681 (31%) were found to have cancer and 1540 (69%) had negative biopsies. • Prostate volume to biopsy core ratios (volume/number of cores) were derived and a comparative analysis was performed to determine the impact on cancer detection rates. RESULTS • The median prostate volume was significantly smaller for those patients diagnosed with prostate cancer than for those with negative biopsies (33 vs 43 cc, P= 0.01). • The median number of cores was the same for both groups of patients (median 12, P= 0.66). • The median transrectal ultrasonography TRUS size/core ratio was 3.5 [interquartile range (IQR) 2.5] for patients with identified cancer as compared with 4.7 (IQR = 3.9) for those with negative biopsies (P= 0.000). • On multivariable logistic regression analysis TRUS size/core ratio had a significant impact on cancer detection with a relative risk ratio of 1.29 (95% confidence interval, 1.1–1.5, P= 0.001) even when controlled for age, race, prostate volume, digital rectal examination and prostate-specific antigen level. CONCLUSIONS • Prostate cancer detection can be enhanced by individualizing the number of cores performed to a real-time prostate volume sampling. • The present study emphasizes that optimal cancer detection rates were observed when a ratio of 3.5 cc per tissue core was achieved. • Proper prospectively designed studies must be performed to further validate these findings.
Intrusion Detection Techniques

In an information system,intrusions are the activities that violate the security policy of the system, and intrusion detection is the process used to identify intrusions. Intrusion detection techniques have been traditionally classified into one of two methodologies: anomaly detection or misuse detection. This chapter gives an overview of the existing intrusion detection techniques, including anomaly detection and misuse detection models, and identifies techniques related to intrusion detection in distributed systems. Topics covered include statistical models, machine learning and data mining approaches, computer immunological approach, specification-based approach, information theoretic measures for anomaly detection, rule-based languages, state transition analysis toolkit, colored Petri automata (CPA), abstraction-based approach, distributed intrusion detection systems, network-based intrusion detection systems, and information sharing among intrusion detection systems. Keywords: anomaly detection; audit trail; intrusion detection; intrusions; misuse detection; misuse signature
Orthostatic hypotension in aging humans

We tested the hypothesis that hypotension occurred in older adults at the onset of orthostatic challenge as a result of vagal dysfunction. Responses of heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (M...
A time-frequency neutral network layered model for hearing perception

This paper introduces a layered neural network model for hearing perception. It is based on five important perceptual properties of hearing. The neural network model processes a joint-domain representation of the input signal to yield the desired perceptual properties. The focus is on the first two layers of the model, the transformation layer and two feature extraction layers. >
Phase II Trial of Gemcitabine in Refractory Germ Cell Tumors

PURPOSE: This phase II study was designed to determine the toxicity and activity of single-agent gemcitabine in heavily pretreated patients with germ cell tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From March 1996 through November 1997, 21 patients were enrolled onto a phase II study of gemcitabine 1,200 mg/m2, given on days 1, 8, and 15 every 4 weeks. One patient was unassessable because he never received any gemcitabine. Thirteen of 20 patients had received three prior regimens, and 13 patients were platinum refractory (progression during or within 4 weeks of platinum treatment). There were five extragonadal cases and two patients with late relapse (relapse beyond 2 years). RESULTS: Gemcitabine was well tolerated. Only one patient had grade 3 or 4 nonhematologic toxicity (grade 3 nausea). Six of 20 patients had grade 3 leukopenia. There were no episodes of granulocytopenic fever, and no patient required platelet transfusion. Three (15%) of 20 patients achieved an objective response, including one complete remission....
Parallel simulation using the Time Warp Operating System

The Time Warp Operating System runs discrete event simulations in parallel using an optimistic synchronization method based on the theory of virtual time. It has had great success in extracting speedup from many simulations, and is now available for experimental use. The author first discusses how to use the Time Warp Operating System to write and run discrete event simulations. He then covers internal issues of the implementation of the Time Warp Operating System. The design of the system is discussed in connection with such issues as events and rollback, dynamic memory allocation, dynamic object creations, and dynamic load management. >
Interfacial properties of metal overlayers on III–V compounds

Abstract This paper gives a short review of the interfacial properties of a few selected metal/III–V systems prepared under atomically clean conditions. It is pointed out that a detailed understanding can now be obtained on an atomic scale about both the interfacial growth and the compositions of reaction products.
Genetic segregation analysis of recurrent, early-onset major depression: evidence for single major locus transmission.

Coordinated efforts are now underway to identify susceptibility genes for unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD) and related disorders. These studies have focused on recurrent, early-onset MDD (RE-MDD), thought to be the most familial form of this disorder. The goal of this study was to conduct a complex segregation analysis of recurrent MDD and other major mood disorders aggregating in families identified by probands with RE-MDD. Eighty-one families were identified through probands over the age of 18 who met criteria for recurrent (≥ 2 episodes), early-onset (≤ 25 years), nonpsychotic, unipolar MDD (RE-MDD) and included 407 first-degree relatives and 835 extended relatives. Psychiatric diagnoses for probands and their family members who provided blood samples were formulated from structured personal interviews, structured family history assessments, and available medical records. The remaining family members who participated and those who were deceased were evaluated through the family history method augmented by available medical records. Best-estimate diagnoses were made during a consensus conference according to established diagnostic criteria. Segregation analyses were performed using the REGD routine in S.A.G.E. release 4.0. The segregation analysis of recurrent MDD supported a sex-independent Mendelian codominant model. Analysis of major mood disorders supported a sex-independent Mendelian dominant model. Interestingly, inclusion of spousal residual correlations provided better fitting models for recurrent MDD but not the broader phenotype of major mood disorders. Unlike unipolar MDD, the lifetime prevalence of bipolar I disorder in this sample of families did not exceed the reported population prevalence [Zubenko et al., 2001]. Our results suggest that a major locus contributes to the expression of recurrent MDD and possibly other major mood disorders within families identified by probands with RE-MDD. Due to the limitations of the segregation analysis model, our results cannot address whether the same major locus is segregating across families in our sample or whether multiple major loci are involved (genetic heterogeneity). The absence of aggregation of bipolar I disorder in these families strongly suggests that while the genetic determinants of unipolar and bipolar disorders may overlap, they are not identical. Our findings illustrate the advantage of employing families identified by probands with RE-MDD in studies designed to detect susceptibility loci for unipolar MDD and related disorders. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Reflection under construction: Using the Handbook of Reflection and Reflective Inquiry in practice

In this work in progress piece, we outline our use of the Handbook of Reflection and Reflective Inquiry as together we looked at the problem of determining the viability of a multicultural student for special education services. We highlight the ways in which the reflective processes in the Handbook assisted us as we considered the cognitive, social and linguistic opportunities for a particular child.
Mixing enhancement of reacting parallel fuel jets in a supersonic combustor

Pursuant to a NASA-Langley development program for a scramjet HST propulsion system entailing the optimization of the scramjet combustor's fuel-air mixing and reaction characteristics, a numerical study has been conducted of the candidate parallel fuel injectors. Attention is given to a method for flow mixing-process and combustion-efficiency enhancement in which a supersonic circular hydrogen jet coflows with a supersonic air stream. When enhanced by a planar oblique shock, the injector configuration exhibited a substantial degree of induced vorticity in the fuel stream which increased mixing and chemical reaction rates, relative to the unshocked configuration. The resulting heat release was effective in breaking down the stable hydrogen vortex pair that had inhibited more extensive fuel-air mixing.
Common and frequently encountered antibodies.

One of the most frequently encountered problems in transfusion medicine is management of the patient who has developed red cell alloantibodies, either naturally occurring or in response to red cell stimulation. Once detected by an antibody screening test or a serological crossmatch with intended donor units, antibody identification studies are routinely performed in order to select appropriate red cell units for transfusion. These studies are often a delaying factor in a scheduled transfusion or blood availability for a surgical procedure. The antibodies identified may be of clinical significance (i.e. often associated with decreased survival of antigen positive units or hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn) or those generally considered not clinically significant. The transfusion medicine staff will recommend units for transfusion based on their knowledge of the actions of the antibodies identified. Unavailability of suitable units for transfusion or an inability to assign antibody specificity to plasma reactivity then requires interaction between the clinician and transfusion medicine specialists to determine the best course of action for the patient. In this section, the frequency of occurrence of various red cell antibodies will be discussed, followed by an evaluation of commonly encountered alloantibodies in each of the major blood group systems. For each system, the clinical significance of the antibodies relative to transfusion of incompatible donor units as well as the percentage of individuals that lack a given antigen will be presented. This percentage represents the difficulty of identifying appropriate ABO/Rh(D)-type specific or compatible units for transfusion when that antibody is present. Organization in this manner will facilitate the reader’s ability to locate specific alloantibodies when they appear in an antibody investigation report. The section will conclude with a discussion of possible courses of action when transfusion must be given in the face of unidentified alloantibodies or known alloantibodies in this group for which antigen negative blood is not available. The reader is referred to
Intracellular distribution and characterization of yeast RNA

Abstract 1. 1. Disrupted yeast cells were separated by centrifugation into two pellets, sedimenting at 15 000 × g and 40 000 × g, and a supernatant fraction. These fractions contained, respectively, 25, 15 and 60 % of the total cell RNA. 2. 2. In the presence of sodium deoxycholate or in buffers of low Mg2+ concentration the fraction containing the 80-S ribosomes (40 000 × g supernantant) yielded 60-S and 50-S particles. Deoxycholate released only 50-S and smaller components from the 15 000 × g and 40 000 × g pellets. 3. 3. Sodium lauryl sulfate extraction of the 40 000 × g supernatant resulted in the liberation of 4 RNA components which sedimented at 26 S, 18 S, 13 S and 11 S. Similar treatment of the 15 000 × g and 40 000 × g pellets extracted only 13-S and 11-S components. 4. 4. RNA prepared by phenol extraction of the total disrupted cell mass or the 40 000 × g pellet yielded, in the presence of EDTA, two components which sedimented at 13 S and 11 S. 5. 5. It is concluded that RNA's with sedimentation coefficients of 13 S and 11 S are naturally occurring components of the cell and are present as subunits in ribosomal RNA. Less than 6 % of the RNA of the 15 000 × g and 40 000 × g pellets is present as 80-S ribosomes.
Acceptability of HPV Vaccine for Males and Preferences for Future Education Programs Among Appalachian Residents

Appalachia is a geographic region with several disparities related to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, yet little is known about acceptability of HPV vaccine for males among Appalachian reside...
Platelet-rich plasma for the treatment of lateral epicondylitis: sonographic assessment of tendon morphology and vascularity (pilot study)

Objective To investigate the efficacy of using contrast-enhanced ultrasound to assess the relationship of altered vascularity and tendon morphology following injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for lateral epicondylitis.
Integral equation theory of block copolymer liquids. II. Numerical results for finite hard‐core diameter chains

The spatially local and long wavelength properties of diblock copolymer melts are studied using the polymer reference interaction site model theory. Two new molecular based closure approximations, the ‘‘reference‐molecular mean spherical approximation’’ (R‐MMSA) and the ‘‘reference‐molecular Percus–Yevick’’ (R‐MPY) approximation are investigated numerically for structurally symmetric, flexible, and semiflexible copolymers with finite hard‐core diameters. For these models both closures lead to a destruction of all spinodal instabilities for finite degrees of polymerization. Results using the R‐MMSA closure for the larger chain lengths studied approach the analytic predictions of the Gaussian thread model. On the other hand, numerical results for the R‐MPY closure show a temperature regime in which there is an apparent chain length independent fluctuation stabilization for moderate degrees of polymerization in qualitative agreement with recent Monte Carlo simulations. However, we believe this apparent scali...
IMAGINE YOURSELF IN THE PRODUCT : Mental Simulation, Narrative Transportation, and Persuasion

Mental simulation has been defined as the cognitive construction of hypothetical scenarios, which are usually in the form of stories or narratives. The experiment in this paper examines the favorable effect of ad-encouraged mental simulation on ad attitudes and brand evaluations. A model is developed wherein mental simulation persuades via narrative transportation, defined as immersion into a story (Gerrig 1994; Green and Brock 2000). Transportation includes strong affective responses and low levels of critical thought, which, in turn, affect ad attitudes and brand evaluations.
Informing comprehensive HIV prevention: a situational analysis of the HIV prevention and care context, North West Province South Africa.

Author(s): Lippman, Sheri A; Treves-Kagan, Sarah; Gilvydis, Jennifer M; Naidoo, Evasen; Khumalo-Sakutukwa, Gertrude; Darbes, Lynae; Raphela, Elsie; Ntswane, Lebogang; Barnhart, Scott | Abstract: ObjectiveBuilding a successful combination prevention program requires understanding the community's local epidemiological profile, the social community norms that shape vulnerability to HIV and access to care, and the available community resources. We carried out a situational analysis in order to shape a comprehensive HIV prevention program that address local barriers to care at multiple contextual levels in the North West Province of South Africa.MethodThe situational analysis was conducted in two sub-districts in 2012 and guided by an adaptation of WHO's Strategic Approach, a predominantly qualitative method, including observation of service delivery points and in-depth interviews and focus groups with local leaders, providers, and community members, in order to recommend context-specific HIV prevention strategies. Analysis began during fieldwork with nightly discussions of findings and continued with coding original textual data from the fieldwork notebooks and a select number of recorded interviews.ResultsWe conducted over 200 individual and group interviews and gleaned four principal social barriers to HIV prevention and care, including: HIV fatalism, traditional gender norms, HIV-related stigma, and challenges with communication around HIV, all of which fuel the HIV epidemic. At the different levels of response needed to stem the epidemic, we found evidence of national policies and programs that are mitigating the social risk factors but little community-based responses that address social risk factors to HIV.ConclusionsUnderstanding social and structural barriers to care helped shape our comprehensive HIV prevention program, which address the four 'themes' identified into each component of the program. Activities are underway to engage communities, offer community-based testing in high transmission areas, community stigma reduction, and a positive health, dignity and prevention program for stigma reduction and improve communication skills. The situational analysis process successfully shaped key programmatic decisions and cultivated a deeper collaboration with local stakeholders to support program implementation.
Hybrid Particle Swarm: Tabu Search Optimization Algorithm for Parameter Estimation

A hybrid intelligent algorithm is proposed. The algorithm utilizes a particle swarm and a Tabu search algorithm. Swarm based algorithms and single agent based algorithms each, have distinct advantages and disadvantages. The goal of the presented work is to combine the strengths of the two different algorithms in order to achieve a more effective optimization routine. The developed hybrid algorithm is tailored such that it has the capability to adapt to the given cost function during the optimization process. The proposed algorithm is tested on a set of different benchmark problems. In addition, the hybrid algorithm is utilized for solving the estimation problem encountered for estimating the finger force output given a surface electromyogram (sEMG) signal at the input. This estimation problem is commonly encountered while developing a control system for a prosthetic hand.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Pulsating gas-solid flow inside a bench-scale reactor☆

Abstract The gas-solid motion inside a laboratory-scale pulsating combustor was analyzed using numerical techniques. The gas flow was treated in an Eulerian frame of reference whereas the motion of representative coal particles were treated in a Lagrangian frame of reference. In most previous studies the particles had been exposed to regular, sinusoidal gas flow. Here the gas flow was obtained as part of the solution by solving the one-dimensional transient equations of motion. The driving force was the combustion heat release prescribed a priori. The resulting flow field is periodic but it cannot be described by a simple sine wave in time. It also varies significantly with the spatial coordinate. The motion of coal particles of various sizes (10–100 μm) with different initial conditions have been studied. The results provide more insight with regard to the aerodynamics of gas-solid flows in pulsating combustors. When released from rest, the larger particles, for example, have longer residence times than smaller particles. Particles with sizes less than about 10 μm follows the gas flow pulsation very closely. Particles larger than 100 μm are affected very little by the flow pulsation. Particle temperature history and heating rates were also calculated. In a pulsating flow the particle temperature oscillates about the gas temperature, resulting in periodic heating and cooling of the particle, but the convective heat transfer to the particle increases mainly because of the increased slip velocity.
Characterization of a gene that is inversely correlated with estrogen receptor expression (ICERE-1) in breast carcinomas

Differential display was used to compare patterns of gene expression in two estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast carcinoma cell lines (MCF7 and T-47D) and two ER-negative breast carcinoma cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and HBL-100). A 377-bp fragment was identified that was overexpressed in the ER-negative cell lines. Sequence analysis of this clone and comparison with the GenBank/EMBL databases indicated that it did not match any genes published previously. The expression pattern of this gene was inversely correlated with the expression of ER and has been termed ICERE-1 (inversely correlated with estrogen receptor expression). A longer clone of ICERE-1 was isolated from a MDA-MB-231 cDNA library and sequence analysis indicated that this 2168-bp cDNA contained an ORF encoding a protein of 234 amino acids that bears little similarity with any previously described protein sequence. Northern blot analysis of a panel of breast cancer cell lines demonstrated that an ICERE-1 mRNA of approximately 2.2 kb was abundantly expressed in the ER-negative breast carcinoma cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and HBL-100, and the ER-negative cell lines. HEC-1-B, HeLa, and 293. Expression of ICERE-1 was absent or minimal in the ER-positive breast carcinoma cell lines MCF7, T-47D, MDA-MB-361, ZR-75-1, BT-474 and BT-20. Reverse transcription/PCR was used to examine ICERE-1 expression in 29 primary breast carcinomas, 15 of which had been designated as ER positive and 14 as ER negative by immunohistochemistry. The expression level of ICERE-1 was significantly lower (P < 0.001) in the ER-positive tumors compared with the ER-negative tumors. The pattern of expression of ICERE-1 indicates that this gene may be involved in tumor biology specific to hormonally unresponsive breast cancers.
Extending immersed circles in the sphere to immersed disks in the ball

Consider a general position immersion of a circle into the 2-sphere. Suppose the immersion has an even number of double points. Then there is a proper immersion of the 2-disk that has the given curve as its boundary. Of all such extentions there is one with a minimum number of triple points. This minimum is obtained algorithmically in terms of a number that is associated to the double point set.
Oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus endophthalmitis after ganciclovir intraocular implant

Abstract PURPOSE: To describe a patient who developed oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus endophthalmitis after insertion of a ganciclovir intraocular implant. METHOD: Case report. RESULTS: A 42-year-old man with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and a history of cytomegalovirus retinitis was admitted with right-sided eye pain and decreased visual acuity 10 days after receiving a second ganciclovir intraocular implant in the right eye. A therapeutic vitrectomy, right eye, was performed on the day of admission. A vitreal tap produced frank pus and white, fluffy debris. Cultures of the vitreal fluid grew oxacillin-resistant S aureus , sensitive only to vancomycin, rifampin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. The patient was successfully treated with removal of both ganciclovir implants in the right eye and a 4-week course of vancomycin and rifampin. However, the infection left the patient blind in the infected eye. CONCLUSION: Bacterial endophthalmitis is an infrequent but serious complication of the ganciclovir intraocular implant.
Anisotropic Dispersion Interactions In Liquid Crystals

Abstract The polarizability and shape anisotropics of a new class of aliphatic liquid crystals, 4,4′-di-n-alkyl-bibicyclo[2.2.2]octanes (n, n-BBCO) have been calculated as a function of the alkyl chain length and its degree of flexibility to inquire about the relative importance of attractive and repulsive interactions in stabilizing the liquid crystalline phase. The calculated polarizability anisotropics are found to be much smaller than that of conventional mesogens. In the context of the Maier-Saupe theory, this indicates that anisotropic dispersion interactions make only a minor contribution to the stability of this class of liquid crystals. The cylindrical symmetry exhibited by the n, n-BBCO homologues and their rigid molecular structure suggest that they might be ideally suited for critical testing of existing theories of the nematic-isotropic phase transition.
Luminescence and Raman spectra of CdS under hydrostatic pressure

The photoluminescence and the Raman spectra of the 1- and 2-LO phonons in cadmium sulphide (CdS) are studied under hydrostatic pressure up to 42 kbar at room temperature. The luminescence peak shifts to higher energy with increasing pressure and vanishes around 25 kbar, when a phase transition from a direct-band-gap wurtzite to an indirect-gap rocksalt structure occurs. The shift of the luminescence peak with pressure in heavily-chlorine-doped CdS (5.35\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.21 meV/kbar) is higher than that in pure (4.47\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.22 meV/kbar) or lightly doped (4.24\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.15 meV/kbar) samples. The LO phonons, which are typical of the wurtzite phase, are expected to disappear at the phase transition. However, they persist well beyond the transformation into the rocksalt phase and are observed up to 42 kbar. This confirms the presence of a mixed phase beyond the transition.
Interannual Positive Feedbacks in a Simple Extratropical Air–Sea Coupling System

Abstract A simple theoretical analysis identified three possible interannual positive feedbacks in the extratropics: the upwelling mode, the SST-Sverdrup mode, and the SST-evaporation mode. The upwelling mode becomes unstable when the atmosphere responses to a warm SST anomaly predominantly with a high surface pressure. In contrast, the SST-Sverdrup mode is destabilized when the atmosphere responses to a warm SST with a low pressure. In the region of mean westerly wind, the SST-evaporation mode is unstable when the atmospheric response to a warm SST is a qurater-wavelength to the south. The upwelling mode seems to favor low-latitude regions, while the two SST modes seem to favor midhigh latitudes. It is suggested that the relative position of the stationary atmospheric response to anomalous SST is of crucial importance for the extratropical ocean-atmosphere interaction.
Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens: Implementing Contact Isolation in the Operating Room

Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) are microorganisms that are resistant to commonly used antimicrobial agents. Caring for patients who harbor MDROs while maintaining a safe environment for other patients and staff presents a challenge for the health care worker in the operating room. Patients infected or colonized with MDROs require special preparations and precautions when scheduled for surgical procedures. Infection control measures must be tailored to the physical environment and to the characteristics of the patients served by the facility. Appropriate strategies must be fully implemented to reduce the risk of environmental contamination and subsequent transmission of MDROs to other patients.
A comparative study of polarimetric and non-polarimetric lidar in deciduous-coniferous tree classification

As an important active remote sensing tool in forest remote sensing, lidar is able to provide information on tree height, canopy structure, aboveground biomass, among other parameters. It has become desirable to be able to classify tree species using lidar data during recent years. Research has been performed using commercial non-polarimetric lidar in tree species classification, at either dominant species level or individual tree level. The objective of this research is to classify deciduous and coniferous trees using the newly developed polarimetric lidar system. Lidar data from five different tree species were collected in the field. These included ponderosa pine, Austrian pine, blue spruce, green ash and maple. Data were preprocessed and artificial neural network method was developed for classification. Data analysis demonstrated that the classification performance using polarimetric lidar data was far better than that using the non-polarimetric lidar data.
Carbon Nanofibers “Spot-Welded” to Carbon Paper by Carbothermal Reduction: A Nano/Micron-Scale Hierarchical Architecture having Low Contact Resistance

The synthesis, characterization, and electrical measurements of graphitic carbon nanofiber (GCNF)/carbon paper composite materials are reported. GCNF/carbon paper composites having relatively weak GCNF/carbon paper and GCNF/SiO2/carbon paper interfacial binding are prepared by growing carbon nanofibers directly from growth catalyst nanoparticles distributed throughout the carbon paper support. Carbothermal reduction of GCNF/SiO2/carbon paper composites effectively “spot welds” carbon nanofibers to carbon paper fibers affording mechanically robust GCNF/SiC/carbon paper composite materials. Characterization methods include scanning electron microscopic imaging, chemical composition and elemental mapping by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy for phase identification, BET surface-area analysis, and measurement of in-plane and contact electrical resistance. Plots of the pressure dependence of the contact resistance of GCNF/carbon paper and GCNF/SiC/carbon paper compo...
CXCR3 signaling in BRAFWT melanoma increases IL-8 expression and tumorigenicity.

Patients with early stage, radial growth phase (RGP) melanoma have a 97% survival rate; however, when the melanoma progresses to the invasive vertical growth phase (VGP), survival rates decrease to 15%. The targets of many clinical trials are the known genetic and molecular mechanisms involved in melanoma progression, with the most common oncogenic mutation being the BRAFV600E. However, less than half of melanomas harbor this mutation, and consequently, do not respond to the current BRAF targeted treatments. It is therefore critical to elucidate alternative mechanisms regulating melanoma progression. Increased expression of the chemokine receptor, CXCR3, on melanoma cells is correlated with increased metastasis and poor patient outcomes, suggesting a role for CXCR3 in the RGP to VGP transition. We found that endogenous CXCR3 can be induced in two RGP cell lines, BOWES (BRAFWT) and WM35 (BRAFV600E), with in vitro environmental stress and nutrient deprivation. Signaling via induced endogenous CXCR3 is linked with IL-8 expression in BOWES cells. Ectopic overexpression of CXCR3 in BOWES cells leads to increased ligand-mediated phERK, cellular migration, and IL-8 expression in vitro, and to increased tumorigenesis and lymph node metastasis in vivo. Our results demonstrate that, in BRAFWT melanomas, CXCR3 signaling mediates significant increases in IL-8 expression, suggesting that CXCR3 expression and signaling may represent a transformative event that drives the progression of BRAFWT melanomas. Implications: Expression of CXCR3 on BRAFWT melanoma cells may be a mediator of melanoma progression.
Optical constants of Bi8Te7S5

Abstract Interrelationships between optical constants of Bi 8 Te 7 S 5 are independent of thickness, as it is shown by a comparison of thin film transmission data to thick crystal ellipsometric data.
Comparative in vitro response of tubercle bacillus (H37RV) to dihydrostreptomycin, para-aminosalicylic acid, and dihydrostreptomycin-para-aminosalicylate.

Summary1. The in vitro growth of the H37Rv strain of tubercle bacilli was inhibited by 0.82 νg DHSM/cc, by a concentration of DHSM-PAS containing 0.41 νg DHSM/cc and by 0.205 νg DHSM/cc when PAS was added in a 3:1 molecular ratio of PAS: DHSM. 2. The fifth serial transfer of H37Rv into increasing concentrations of DHSM resulted in a stain growing readily in over 2000 νg DHSM/cc while the tenth such transfer of the organisms into increasing concentrations of DHSM-PAS resulted in a strain growing readily in over 1000 νg DHSM-PAS/cc. No increase in resistance on the part of organisms transferred into increasing concentrations of DHSM with PAS present in a 1:3 molecular ratio has so far been found. 3. Organisms resistant to the compound (DHSM-PAS) were found to be also resistant to DHSM alone, to PAS alone, and to the mixture of DHSM and PAS.
Critical phenomena in systems with long-range-correlated quenched disorder

As a model for a phase transition in an inhomogeneous system, we consider a system where the local transition temperature varies in space, with a correlation function obeying a power law $\ensuremath{\sim}{x}^{\ensuremath{-}a}$ for large separations $x$. We extend the Harris criterion for this case, finding that for $ald$ (where $d$ is the spatial dimension) the disorder is irrelevant if $a\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{-}2g0$, while if $agd$ we recover the usual Harris criterion: The disorder is irrelevant if $d\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{-}2=\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\alpha}g0$. An $m$-vector system of this type is studied with the use of a renormalization-group expansion in $\ensuremath{\epsilon}=4\ensuremath{-}d$ and $\ensuremath{\delta}=4\ensuremath{-}a$. We find a new long-range-disorder fixed point in addition to the short-range-disorder and pure fixed points found previously. The crossover between fixed points is found to follow the extended Harris criterion. The new fixed point has complex eigenvalues, leading to oscillating corrections to scaling, and has a correlation-length exponent $\ensuremath{\nu}=\frac{2}{a}$. We argue that this new scaling relation is exact and applies more generally than just to the specific model. We show that the extended Harris criterion also applies to percolation with long-range-correlated site or bond-occupation probabilities, so that the scaling law should be obeyed by such systems. Results for the percolation properties of the triangular Ising model are in agreement with these predictions.
Holes, God-shaped and Otherwise: A Response to Right Talk and Philip C. Wander

Smith's The Right Talk is an impotent expose simply because there's no fucking or god in it (or rather, there is no fucking god at all). Let me explain. The author sets out to debunk common assumpt...
Application of optimization techniques on lumped HVAC models for energy conservation

Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems comprise nearly one third of annual household energy consumption in the United States. HVAC energy use can be reduced by applying controls. This study applies a novel control method on a system with arbitrary steady-state and transient load distributions. The new method uses multi-dimensional interpolation between optimized control configurations for various steady-state load distributions. Demonstration of the new method on a two-room HVAC system predicts power savings for an arbitrary steady load that is nearly equivalent to that using a Variable-Air-Volume (VAV) with chiller modulation. However, the new method provides better energy savings for arbitrary transient loads: 19% energy savings over an uncontrolled system compared to energy savings of 6% for a VAV with chiller modulation. The average transient temperature deviation from setpoint using the new method is slightly better than that using VAV with chiller modulation.
Physical heterogeneity of mouse thymus lymphocytes.

Abstract Mouse thymocytes have been separated by velocity sedimentation in a density gradient. The resulting fractions have been analyzed using electrophoretic light scattering. The electrophoretic distributions of the individual sedimentation fractions reveal the presence of physically distinct subpopulations. Comparison of the mean mobilities of each fraction indicates that the faster-sedimenting cells tend to have a higher electrophoretic mobility.
Wave-breaking amplitude of relativistic oscillations in a thermal plasma.

The maximum amplitude of relativistic plasma oscillations (${\ensuremath{\upsilon}}_{\mathrm{ph}}$ near $c$) is obtained with a combined one-dimensional waterbag and warm-fluid model. The waterbag description is used to obtain expressions for the pressure and internal energy as functions of the proper density. A relativistic Euler's equation that is valid for arbitrarily large amplitudes and an analytic expression for the wave-breaking amplitude in the limit ${\ensuremath{\upsilon}}_{\mathrm{ph}}\ensuremath{\cong}c$ are obtained. Even a small amount of thermal energy can significantly reduce the maximum plasma-wave amplitude relative to the cold wave-breaking value. The significance of the results for recent accelerator schemes is discussed.
Level-crossing spectroscopy with an electric field - Stark shift of the 3 super 2 P term in lithium.

Level-crossing spectroscopy with electric field, Stark shift of 3P term of lithium subject to electric and magnetic field
On the origin of enhanced thermoelectricity in Fe doped Ca3Co4O9

Resistivity and Seebeck coefficient measurements on Ca3Co4−xFexO9 (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.25) reveal enhanced thermoelectric performance with an optimal x value of 0.2. X-ray diffraction measurements show continuous Fe doping into the host lattice, while X-ray absorption experiments reveal that Fe substitutes for Co in the Ca2CoO3 (rock salt) block. The Fe substitution for Co produces electron doping. The local structure around Fe in the Ca2CoO3 block becomes disordered, while the structure in the conducting CoO2 layer becomes more ordered. The structural change in the CoO2 layer plays the key role to enhance the electron transport. The highest ordered structure is achieved at x = 0.2 with the lowest resistivity. Soft X-ray absorption measurements find no Co site spin-state change with Fe doping. Thermoelectric property enhancement associated with doping induced structural change points to a new approach for creating materials with improved ZT in complex oxide systems.
Integrated optic vertical polarization splitters using polymers

We present design considerations and fabrication results for a vertically integrated waveguide polarization splitter. Fabrication techniques of shadow reactive ion etching (RIE) and variable photolithography exposure produced the required vertical waveguide structures. The fabricated vertical waveguide bends exhibit excess loss of only 0.2dB. By constructing this vertical bend with a birefringent polyimide, simulation results show the possibility of a polarization splitter with an extinction ratio of over 15dB. We demonstrate preliminary waveguide experiments showing the practicality of these structures as three dimensionally integrated optical devices.
Regional scale synoptic air monitoring for visibility evaluation based on PIXE analyses

Abstract The western part of the United States is characterized both by major scenic attractions (Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, etc.) and the excellent visibilities necessary to enjoy the vistas. Recent legislation has been enacted to protect such visibilities from degradation associated with energy and resource development, and the U.S. Environmemtal Protection Agency has been charged with establishing baseline values for both visibility and fine particles. For this purpose, a network of forty air sampling stations has been established in remote locations of the study area (representing about 25% of the contiguous forty-eight states) on a 150 km grid spacing. Each sampler collects coarse and fine (less than 2.5 μm diameter) particles through sequential filtration over two three-day periods per week. Four central stations are operated with a larger variety of meteorological and air sampling instruments, as well as visibillty probes, allowing daily samples in numerous size ranges. Many of these instruments were designed around the capabilities of PIXE, resulting in highly quantitative data at major savings in cost for such a large array. Particulate sources are being evaluated through elemental tracer and meteorological trajectory analyses, and the effects on visibility are being studied through statistical methodologies.