cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“Screw Health”: Representations of Sex as a Health-Promoting Activity in Medical and Popular Literature

Recently, scientific and popular press articles have begun to represent sex as a health-promoting activity. A number of scientific studies have identified possible health benefits of sexual activity, including increased lifespan and decreased risk of certain types of cancers. These scientific findings have been widely reported on in the popular press. This "sex for health" discourse claims that sexual activity leads to quantifiable physical and mental health benefits in areas not directly related to sexuality. Analyzing this discourse provides an opportunity to better understand both broader health promotion discourses and current norms and anxieties about sexuality. In this article, I place this "sex for health" discourse within the context of broader health promotion discourses and within the context of a number of historical and contemporary discourses connecting health and sexuality. I argue that although the "sex for health" discourse may serve to de-stigmatize sexual activity for some, it may also increase pressure on others to be sexually active and may further pathologize sexual "dysfunction." In addition, these representations often serve to further privilege a normative form of sexual behavior - coitus in the context of a monogamous heterosexual partnership - at the expense of non-normative sexual desires, identities, and practices.
Adsorption isotherms for oxygen chemisorbed on silver powder

Abstract Adsorption isotherms have been measured on cleaned silver powder from 178 to 339°C at oxygen pressures of 0.226 Pa to 40 kPa using a vacuum ultramicrobalance. Adsorption equilibrium was found at all temperatures and pressures studied. The surface was prepared for the reproducible chemisorption studies using an established method of cyclic outgassing, oxygen adsorption and reduction in carbon monoxide. Seven isotherms were measured that spanned fractional surface coverages from 0.17 to 1.1. The isosteric heat of adsorption q was determined at constant values of θ. After decreasing from 42 to 17.7 kcal mol−1 at the lower coverages, q remains constant at 18.4 ± 0.8 kcal mol−1 from θ of 0.33 to about 0.90 and then decreases to zero at the highest coverages and temperatures. The initial drop in q is attributed to the formation of islands of a two-dimensional surface silver oxide. The constant value of q results then from the completion of the oxide layer and molecular adsorption on and/or through the oxide. The decrease in q to zero at the highest coverages results from repulsions in the adlayer at T ≤ 275°C and absorption into silver at T > 302°C.
The Influence of Water on the Optical Properties of Single‐Layer Molybdenum Disulfide

Adsorbed molecules can significantly affect the properties of atomically thin materials. Physisorbed water plays a significant role in altering the optoelectronic properties of single-layer MoS_2, one such 2D film. Here we demonstrate the distinct quenching effect of adsorbed water on the photoluminescence of single-layer MoS_2 through scanning-probe and optical microscopies.
The CH bond energy of formaldehyde

Abstract In order to compare with recent accurate measurements, the carbon-hydrogen bond energy in formaldehyde has been calculated. Both electron correlation and extensively polarized basis sets are required to obtain satisfactory results. The most extensive computation predicts a CH bond energy of 85.4 kcal/mole, which is in good agreement with the experimental result of 86.6 kcal/mole.
Characteristics of warm season precipitating storms in the Arkansas–Red River basin

[1] Analysis of a multisensor precipitation product enables us to extract the precipitation from individual storms in the Arkansas–Red River drainage basin over a period of 11 years. We examine the year-to-year and intraseasonal variations of storm numbers, duration, sizes, and precipitation in the data set. Intraseasonal variations in numbers of storms exceed their year-to-year variations. More mountainous regions had greater numbers of storms than flatter regions. Most storms are small, last less than 2 h, and produce modest amounts of precipitation. The maximum size of storms and the number of storms are negatively correlated on a yearly basis. Midsummer months had a greater percentage of smaller storms but the storms were of longer average duration. We can roughly divide the storms into three different types, single ordinary cell storms, multiple storms (includes supercells), and mesoscale convective systems, and look at their year to year and intraseasonal variability in the data set. The most storms occur around 1700 local time but the most precipitation falls around 0100 local time. Storm duration was the most important factor determining how much precipitation storms generate per cell. We do not find that drought years or years with abundant precipitation had any particular characteristics but occur as a result of simultaneous occurrence of several features.
Single-Subject Research in Gifted Education.

Single-subject research (SSR) is an experimental research tradition that is well established in other fields (e.g., special education, behavior analysis) but has rarely been applied to topics in gifted education. In this Methodological Brief, Brandi Simonsen and Catherine A. Little from the University of Connecticut highlight the key features of SSR, describe typical SSR designs, and present examples to illustrate how each design could be applied to topics in gifted education.
Semiconductor Detectors for Medical Tomography with High-Energy Heavy Ions

High-energy heavy ion beams are in use at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory for cancer therapy. In order to take full advantage of the very favorable depth-dose characteristics of those beams, it is necessary to determine the stopping characteristics of the ions in the complex media of a human with greater accuracy than obtainable with X-ray CAT scanning. Initial measurements with an array of Si dE/dx position sensitive detectors and a windowless thin planar Ge detector used in a side entry mode show the potential for fabricating an instrument for high accuracy on-line CAT scanning using the same ions to be used for therapy. It is estimated that one tomography can be obtained with a dose of 0.72 Rad-gm.
Reconstructability analysis: Aims, results, open problems

The term ‘reconstructability analysis’ has evolved as a generic term for all aspects of a methodology whose aim is to deal with problems associated with the relationship between systems perceived as wholes and their various subsystems (i.e. parts of the wholes). This article is a state-of-the-art report on reconstructability analysis (RA). It contains a description of problems that are studied under RA, a summary of main results obtained within RA, an outline of some important issues associated with RA that require further research, and an up-to-date bibliography of RA. After a general discussion of the issues associated with the whole/part relationship and an overview of the aims of RA, the article describes results obtained for two problems that are subjects of study in RA. One of the problems, called an identification problem, is concerned with inferences about an unknown overall system from a given set of its subsystems. A deductive inference from the given subsystems results in the set of all overall systems which yield those very subsystems; it is called a reconstruction family. The ability to identify the true overall system is measured by an identifiability quotient that is inversely proportional to the relative size of the reconstruction family. A selection of one overall system from the reconstruction family requires an inductive inference. It is argued that the selected system should be unbiased and a simple procedure for determining it (called a join procedure) is described. The second problem, called a reconstruction problem, is concerned with the determination of such subsystems, as small as possible, from which the overall system can be reconstructed to an acceptable degree of approximation. The approximation is measured by an information distance between the given and reconstructed overall systems. The reconstruction problem involves a number of computational difficulties. Some approaches to overcoming these difficulties are discussed. The article also contains a description of simulation experiments which contributed toward the determination of some fundamental characteristics of RA for the reconstruction problem.
HOP BREEDING WORLDWIDE—ITS AIMS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

The principal objectives of breeding programmes throughout the world are identified as the production of either high alpha-acid or aroma types combined with resistance to the major pests and diseases. In some countries a further problem has been physiological adaptation to the environment while a recent project is the development of dwarf hops. One technique used to achieve these ends has been the use of triploidy. The overall effect of these efforts has been to reduce the area of hops needed to produce brewers' requirements.
Estimation of the surface energy of inert gas crystals

Abstract Calculation of the surface energy of an inert gas crystal is described and results are given for the {111}-, {100}- and {110}- faces of Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe, using an exp-6 interaction potential as well as a Lennard-Jones (12-6) form. Effects of the relaxation of atoms from their regular sites in the surface region are considered and it is shown that in all cases there is a net expansion of the crystal. Changes in lattice spacing are greatest for the {110}-face and between the first two layers the increase is nearly 4 per cent; beyond the fourth layer the interlayer expansion is less than 0.1 per cent. Very similar pictures of the surface relaxation are obtained from the two different potential functions and numerical values for the surface energy generally agree within 1 erg cm −2 .
Pure E0-Semigroups and Absorbing States

An E0-semigroup \(\) acting on \(\) is called pure if its tail von Neumann algebra is trivial in the sense that $$$$ We determine all pure E0-semigroups which have a weakly continuous invariant state ω and which are minimal in an appropriate sense. In such cases the dynamics of the state space must stabilize as follows: for every normal state ρ of \(\) there is convergence to equilibrium in the trace norm $$$$ A normal state ω with this property is called an absorbing state for α.
The effect of inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis on hematocrits of mice.

Abstract Four experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) on hematocrit of mice. Indomethacin (experiment I) and meclofenamic acid (experiment II) reduced (P 2 partially reversed (P 2 α was without effect. The results of these studies indicate that inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis decreased hematocrit by increasing plasma volume.
Effects of retinal eccentricity on displacement thresholds for unidirectional and oscillatory stimuli.

Abstract Motion sensitivity was determined for line stimuli undergoing unidirectional and oscillatory displacements at various retinal eccentricities. Oscillatory motions of short duration were found to produce consistently greater motion thresholds than unidirectional stimuli at each eccentricity tested. Increasing retinal eccentricity elevated motion thresholds similarly for both forms of stimulus motion. The observed differences between unidirectional and oscillatory stimuli are attributed to differences in the temporal summation of the two forms of stimuli at short durations. These findings also suggest that differences in motion sensitivity between central and peripheral vision are quantitative rather than qualitative.
Identification of Solid Materials by Correlation Analysis Using a Microscopic Laser-Induced Plasma Spectrometer

The primary goal of this work was the instant identification of solid materials on the basis of spectral libraries stored in a computer using laser-induced plasma spectroscopy. The libraries were obtained prior to analysis and consisted of representative spectra from different groups of materials to be analyzed. Special attention was paid to identification of samples with very similar chemical composition, such as certain series of stainless steel and cast iron standards. Both linear and rank correlation methods were applied. Rank correlation proved to be more reliable, yielding probability of correct identification close to unity for almost all studied samples. This technique should have applications in the metallurgical, mineralogical, and semiconductor industries and in medical and forensic sciences.
Developing videocasts for integration into a library information literacy program at a medical college

Abstract Established in 2001 as a partnership between Cornell University and Qatar Foundation, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) is part of Weill Cornell Medical College in New York and shares its mission of dedication to excellence in education, patient care and research. The Distributed eLibrary (D eLib) at the WCMC-Q is a library without walls, existing in a distributed electronic environment, transcending space and place. One of its key defining features is its disseminated yet interconnected services, resources, and presence that are accessible, flexible, and dynamic. D eLib’s strategic plan, Futura, charts the future for information resources and services and the library’s role in supporting WCMC-Q’s tripartite mission. It is a challenging and innovative plan, with eight pathways focusing on different aspects of an interconnected world of information, including end-user instruction, application of technology and promotion of library programs and services. The ACRL Information Literacy ...
Quadratic Spline Interpolation and the Sharpness of Lebesgue's Inequality.

Abstract : The relationship between convergence rates to smooth functions and to rough functions is investigated in the context of quadratic spline interpolation.
SIMPLIFIED HABIT REVERSAL TREATMENT FOR CHRONIC HAIR PULLING IN THREE ADOLESCENTS: A CLINICAL REPLICATION WITH DIRECT OBSERVATION

Three developmentally normal adolescents with chronic hair pulling were treated with a simplified habit reversal procedure consisting of awareness training, competing response training, and social support. Treatment resulted in an immediate reduction to near-zero levels of hair pulling, with one to three booster sessions required to maintain these levels. The results were maintained from 18 to 27 weeks posttreatment, although 1 participant reported difficulty at follow-up. The effectiveness of simplified habit reversal and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Web style intranet speeds design flow

A new concept is driving many new product development efforts. Internet time, as it is called, denotes the virtually instantaneous turnaround time that customers these days expect on an order. The Web cannot, of course, fully gratify their wish, but it does enable design engineers to operate more efficiently and faster, than ever before. With the Web's aid, product development teams dispersed around the world can collaborate in eight-hour shifts around the clock and with access to the latest information about their design resources on the Web, catalog all manner of information, streamlining the search for parts and software. Engineers need not unwittingly invent the wheel all over again but can find something suitable, and available, on the Web to build on. In particular, instruments can themselves be enabled for communication over the Web, offering both designers and customers heretofore unheard-of access to their operation.
Changes in post-prandial glucose and pancreatic hormones, and steady-state insulin and free fatty acids after gastric bypass surgery.

Abstract Background Changes in the multiple mechanisms that regulate glucose metabolism after gastric bypass (RYGB) are still being unveiled. The objective of this study was to compare the changes of glucose and pancreatic hormones [C-peptide, glucagon, and pancreatic polypeptide (PP)] during a meal tolerance test (MTT) and steady-state insulin and free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations during euglycemic–hyperinsulinemic clamp 14 days and 6 months after RYGB in morbidly obese nondiabetic patients. Methods Two groups were studied at baseline and at 14 days: the RYGB followed by caloric restriction group (RYGB, n=12) and the equivalent caloric restriction alone group (Diet, n=10), to control for energy intake and weight loss. The RYGB group was studied again at 6 months to assess the changes after substantial weight loss. During MTT, the early and overall changes in glucose and pancreatic hormone concentrations were determined, and during the clamp, steady-state insulin and FFA concentrations were assessed. Results After 14 days, RYGB patients had enhanced postprandial glucose, C-peptide, and glucagon responses, and decreased postprandial PP concentrations. Steady-state insulin concentrations were decreased at 14 days only in RYGB patients, and FFA increased in both groups. Six months after RYGB and substantial weight loss, the decrease in insulin concentrations during clamp persisted, and there were further changes in postprandial glucose and glucagon responses. FFA concentrations during clamp were significantly lower at 6 months, relative to presurgical values. Conclusions In morbidly obese nondiabetic patients, RYGB produces early changes in postmeal glucose, C-peptide, glucagon, and PP responses, and it appears to enhance insulin clearance early after RYGB and improve insulin sensitivity in adipose tissue at 6 months postsurgery. The early changes cannot be explained by caloric restriction alone.
Optimizing communication for array operations on message-passing multicomputers

Whole array operations and array section operations are important features of many data-parallel languages. Efficient implementation of these operations on distributed-memory multicomputers is critical to the scalability and high-performance of data-parallel programs. We present an approach for analyzing communication patterns induced by array operations and for scheduling message flow based on the information. Our scheduling algorithm guarantees contention-free data transfer and utilizes network resources optimally. It incurs little overhead and is suitable to be used in compilers and in runtime libraries. We also present simulation results that demonstrate the algorithm's superiority to the asynchronous transfer mode that is commonly used for this type of communication.
Looking past the model species: diversity in gaze-following skills across primates

Primates must navigate complex social landscapes in their daily lives: gathering information from and about others, competing with others for food and mates, and cooperating to obtain rewards as well. Gaze-following often provides important clues as to what others see, know, or will do; using information about social attention is thus crucial for primates to be competent social actors. However, the cognitive bases of the gaze-following behaviors that primates exhibit appear to vary widely across species. The ultimate challenge of such analyses will therefore be to understand why such different cognitive mechanisms have evolved across species.
Characterization of the Minimal Replicon of a Cryptic Deinococcus radiodurans SARK Plasmid and Development of Versatile Escherichia coli-D. radiodurans Shuttle Vectors

The nucleotide sequence of a 12-kb fragment of the cryptic Deinococcus radiodurans SARK plasmid pUE10 was determined, in order to direct the development of small, versatile cloning systems for Deinococcus. Annotation of the sequence revealed 12 possible open reading frames. Among these are the repU and resU genes, the predicted products of which share similarity with replication proteins and site-specific resolvases, respectively. The products of both genes were demonstrated using an overexpression system in Escherichia coli. RepU was found to be required for replication, and ResU was found to be required for stable maintenance of pUE10 derivatives. Gel shift analysis using purified His-tagged RepU identified putative binding sites and suggested that RepU may be involved in both replication initiation and autoregulation of repU expression. In addition, a gene encoding a possible antirestriction protein was found, which was shown to be required for high transformation frequencies. The arrangement of the replication region and putative replication genes for this plasmid from D. radiodurans strain SARK is similar to that for plasmids found in Thermus but not to that for the 45.7-kb plasmid found in D. radiodurans strain R1. The minimal region required for autonomous replication in D. radiodurans was determined by sequential deletion of segments from the 12-kb fragment. The resulting minimal replicon, which consists of approximately 2.6 kb, was used for the construction of a shuttle vector for E. coli and D. radiodurans. This vector, pRAD1, is a convenient general-purpose cloning vector. In addition, pRAD1 was used to generate a promoter probe vector, and a plasmid containing lacZ and a Deinococcus promoter was shown to efficiently express LacZ.
Measured performance of the GTA RF systems

This paper describes the performance of the RF systems on the Ground Test Accelerator (GTA). The RF system architecture is briefly described. Among the RF performance results presented are RF field flatness and stability, amplitude and phase control resolution, and control system bandwidth and stability. The rejection by the RF systems of beam-induced disturbances, such as transients and noise, are analyzed. The observed responses are also compared to computer-based simulations of the RF systems for validation. >
Rational design of stable lyophilized protein formulations: theory and practice.

For ease of preparation and cost containment by the manufacturer, and ease of handling by the end user, an aqueous therapeutic protein formulation usually is preferred. However, with many proteins it is not possible—especially considering the time constraints for product development—to develop sufficiently stable aqueous formulations. Unacceptable denaturation and aggregation can be induced readily by the numerous stresses to which a protein in aqueous solution is sensitive; e.g., heating, agitation, freezing, pH changes, and exposure to interfaces or denaturants (Arakawa et al., 1993; Cleland et al., 1993; Brange, 2000; Bummer and Koppenol, 2000). Furthermore, even under conditions that thermodynamically greatly favor the native state of proteins, aggregation can arise during months of storage in aqueous solution (e.g., Gu et al., 1991; Arakawa et al., 1993; Chen et al., 1994; Chen et al., 1994; Chang et al., 1996a). In addition, several chemical degradation pathways (e.g., hydrolysis and deamidation) are mediated by water. In aqueous formulations, the rates of these and other (e.g., oxidation) chemical degradation reactions can be unacceptably rapid on the time scale of storage (e.g., 18–24 months) for pharmaceutical products (Manning et al., 1989; Cleland et al., 1993; Goolcharran et al., 2000; Bummer and Koppenol, 2000).
Runoff and soil loss relationships for the Texas Blackland Prairies ecoregion

Hydrological and soil loss data have been collected since 1937 at the USDA-ARS Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory near Riesel, TX. Data from the site, originally named the Blacklands Experimental Watershed, have played a vital role in the evaluation of conservation management practices to limit soil erosion and offsite herbicide transport and in the development of several watershed models used worldwide. The entire record of precipitation, runoff, sediment loss, management practices, and limited meteorological information is publicly available (http://www.ars.usda.gov/spa/hydro-data). The data represent a valuable regional resource for use in water supply modeling, rural land development, and agricultural land management. Results of the present analyses confirmed the importance of soil-water phases to temporal runoff patterns in the Texas Blackland Prairies ecoregion. Little runoff occurs in the "dry" soil-water phase (avg. = 2-9 mm/month), but substantial surface runoff and lateral subsurface return flow occurs in the "saturated" phase (avg. = 19-28 mm/month). Strong linear relationships (P< 0.0001) were determined between watershed size and annual peak flow rates for return intervals from 2 to 100 yr. Long-term data indicate a drastic reduction in soil loss from small grain production compared to row crop production due to the presence of soil cover in both the spring and fall high precipitation periods. Thus, utilization of a winter cover crop in row crop production or conversion from row crop to small grain production can be effective in reducing offsite transport of sediment and associated contaminants, which may be important in watersheds with substantial agricultural contribution to water quality impairment. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Patterns of duodenal osmolality in young pigs fed solid food

Duodenal hypertonicity can induce satiety, but whether duodenal osmolality varies during eating enough to influence meal size is not clear. To find out more about this, duodenal samples were taken via implanted catheters from 10 young pigs under three feeding conditions. 1) The pigs were fasted 4-5 h and then given a meal with drinking water available. Duodenal osmolality rose from a premeal level of 297 mosmol/kgH2O to a peak of 430 mosmol/kgH2O at 35 min after the meal began and then returned to the premeal level after 2.2 h. 2) When pigs were similarly fasted and then given a meal, but with no drinking water available during and after the meal, osmolality rose to 418 mosmol/kgH2O after 35 min and only returned to premeal levels after 4.2 h. 3) Finally, when pigs were allowed to eat and drink spontaneously, osmolality rose from a mean of 281 to only 308 mosmol/kgH2O after meals, in part because of water drinking in association with meals and in part because the spontaneous meals were smaller. The results demonstrate that duodenal osmolality can rise significantly after meals but that hyperosmolality is moderated by water drinking.
Growth hormone improves short stature in children with Diamond-Blackfan anemia.

Background Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA), an inherited marrow failure syndrome, has severe hypoplastic anemia in infancy and association with aplastic anemia, MDS/leukemia, and other malignancies. Short stature is present in most patients. Isolated cases have demonstrated improved growth on growth hormone (GH) therapy. Procedures GH treatment data were obtained from 19 children with DBA (6 at our site and 13 from Genentech). Control data from 44 non-GH treated children were provided by Diamond Blackfan Anemia Registry. Annual growth velocity (GV) and height-for-age Z-scores (HAZ) were compared between groups and for up to 4y of GH treatment. Results Constructed DBA-specific male and female height-for-age charts for non-GH treated patients revealed short stature compared to CDC norms. GH-treated patients had significantly lower HAZ prior to treatment initiation compared to non-GH-treated controls. Among GH-treated patients, GV significantly improved in the first two years relative to pre-treatment. HAZ significantly improved in each of 4y of GH therapy compared to baseline. After 2y of therapy, HAZ for GH-treated patients were not significantly different from controls, demonstrating successful catch-up growth. Conclusions GH treatment in children with DBA improves both GV and HAZ during treatment sustained for up to 4y. Very short children with DBA can be treated successfully with GH to restore stature to levels comparable to less affected patients. DBA height charts are useful tools for assessing age-specific growth in this typically short population. Careful consideration of individualized benefit of GH therapy versus risk is important in view of long-term underlying ∼5% malignancy risk in DBA. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:402–408. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Optical Cross-sectional Imaging of the Macula With the Retinal Thickness Analyzer in X-linked Retinoschisis

Objective: To assess the morphologic characteristics of the foveal abnormality in juvenile X-linked retinoschisis using the scanning retinal thickness analyzer (RTA). This characteristic foveal abnormality is present in 83% to 100% of patients with X-linked retinoschisis and has not been demonstrated histopathologically. Methods: The RTA is a noncontact imaging device. The RTA scans an obliquely oriented slit laser beam across the macula to obtain a series of optical cross sections, which are digitized. Participants: The RTA was used to examine 7 eyes of 5 patients with X-linked retinoschisis. Results: The RTA demonstrated foveal schisis in all eyes examined. In 2 eyes of 2 patients, a single schisis cavity, with an inner leaf in a dome-shaped configuration, was present. In 4 eyes of 3 patients, a single schisis cavity containing fine strands was present. Some of these strands partially, and others completely, bridged the cavity. In 1 eye of 1 patient, 2 separate schisis cavities with bridging strands were present in the fovea. Conclusions: Scanning RTA is a noninvasive imaging modality capable of producing optical cross sections that demonstrate the extent and structural details of the foveal schisis in X-linked retinoschisis. Scanning RTA seems to be effective in the detection, characterization, and quantification of foveal schisis. Arch Ophthalmol. 1998;116:1036-1041
Ornithology in a Cubical World: Reichenbach on Scientific Realism

Experience and Prediction (1938) was Hans Reichenbach’s major epistemological treatise1 He regarded it as his refutation of logical positivism. The main theme of this book — the foundation for his critique of positivism — is his thoroughgoing probabilism. It is interesting to note that in 1933 Reichenbach published a glowing review of Rudolf Carnap’s Der Logische Aufbau der Welt, his only criticism being an inability to see how probability could fit into the picture. In the first chapter of Experience and Prediction he presents his version of the verifiability theory of cognitive meaning. Instead of demanding, as the logical positivists had, the conclusive verifiability of a sentence if it is to qualify as cognitively meaningful, he insists upon probabilistic verifiability. A sentence is cognitively meaningful if and only if it is physically possible to have empirical evidence in terms of which a probability (more accurately, a weight 2) can be assigned to it.3
Structural modification of Schwann cells in the pancreatic islets of the dog

In dog pancreatic islets, Schwann cells not only ensheath autonomic nerves but also have cytoplasmic processes that are contiguous with large expanses of the islet surface. These processes are interposed between the islet basal lamina and the endocrine parenchyma. This structrual modification of Schwann cells may play a role in the neural control of islet function.
Dynamic Fracture Mechanisms in Nanostructured and Amorphous Silica Glasses Million-Atom Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Parallel molecular dynamics simulations are performed to investigate dynamic fracture in bulk and nanostructured silica glasses at room temperature and 1000 K. In bulk silica the crack front develops multiple branches and nanoscale pores open up ahead of the crack tip. Pores coalesce and then they merge with the advancing crack-front to cause cleavage fracture. The calculated fracture toughness is in good agreement with experiments. In nanostrucutred silica the crack-front meanders along intercluster boundaries, merging with nanoscale pores in these regions to cause intergranular fracture. The failure strain in nanostructured silica is significantly larger than in the bulk systems.
A global measurement study of context-based propagation and user mobility

Mobile phones are becoming a powerful platform for global-scale measurements due to their ever-increasing programmability and prevalence. Moreover, advanced sensing capabilities have allowed mobile phones to become aware of the user's context, potentially leading to performance improvement. Such context awareness could be exploited to optimize a wireless network connection since wireless channels are known to depend on the surrounding environment. The viability of context-aware wireless performance improvement would heavily depend on whether differences in context had meaningful performance distinction and whether the training overhead per context encountered would overwhelm potential gains. In this paper, we perform a large-scale measurement study of regional performance based on a users context and characterize user mobility around the world. To do so, we deployed WiEye, an Android-based wireless sniffer which has collected over 50 million measurements from over 30 thousand unique users. We categorize measurements according to land use and political divisions to investigate whether distinct levels of performance exist as indicated by wireless path loss. We then examine user mobility patterns via subtractive fuzzy clustering to determine how many different contexts a user typically encounters. Our results show promise for context awareness since distinct levels of performance are observed per land use class with only one or two contexts being typical per user.
There Are No “Innocent Victims”: The Influence of Just World Beliefs and Prior Victimization on Rape Myth Acceptance

Utilizing data from an online survey of 979 university students, this study explores the relationship between prior sexual assault victimization experiences, belief in a just world, and acceptance of rape myths. Results indicated that men, younger respondents, and those with less education were more likely to support rape myths. Support for just world beliefs and rape myths were also positively associated, while rape victims exhibited less support for rape myths than non-victims. Implications for future studies are discussed.
Elemental composition of otoliths from Atlantic croaker along an estuarine pollution gradient

Elemental compositions of otoliths of young-of-the-year Atlantic croaker Micropogonias undulatus at stations along a pollution gradient in Galveston Bay, Texas, were compared with those of sediments and livers to establish the level of consonance between otolith and habitat chemistries. Both coupled and uncoupled trends were indicated, with the bulk of the results pointing to the need for additional research to test the working hypothesis that the otolith stores a temporal record of elemental chemistry of resident waters. Lack of simple correlations between elemental concentrations in sediment or liver and in otoliths indicate that other biological and geochemical factors influence otolith composition.
Decentralized task-aware scheduling for data center networks

Many data center applications perform rich and complex tasks (e.g., executing a search query or generating a user's news-feed). From a network perspective, these tasks typically comprise multiple flows, which traverse different parts of the network at potentially different times. Most network resource allocation schemes, however, treat all these flows in isolation -- rather than as part of a task -- and therefore only optimize flow-level metrics. In this paper, we show that task-aware network scheduling, which groups flows of a task and schedules them together, can reduce both the average as well as tail completion time for typical data center applications. To achieve these benefits in practice, we design and implement Baraat, a decentralized task-aware scheduling system. Baraat schedules tasks in a FIFO order but avoids head-of-line blocking by dynamically changing the level of multiplexing in the network. Through experiments with Memcached on a small testbed and large-scale simulations, we show that Baraat outperforms state-of-the-art decentralized schemes (e.g., pFabric) as well as centralized schedulers (e.g., Orchestra) for a wide range of workloads (e.g., search, analytics, etc).
Budget Constraints and Multiobjective Planning

The purpose of this paper is to explain the relation between multiobjective planning of public investment programs and the use of budget constraints, because this important matter is normally not considered in governmental proposals of new planning methods. The multiobjective approach to planning includes: (1) identification of the several objectives of the public organization for which the plans are being made; (2) for each objective development of metrics of its benefits and costs; and (3) design of alternative programs that emphasize alternative combinations of objectives as a means of showing how governmental and private actions can contribute to objectives. In a formal sense a budget constraint is a limit on the total expenditure that can be made for a project or program; and if the constraint is binding, it affects the design of the project or program.
Morphokinetic Evaluation of Embryo Development in a Mouse Model: Functional and Molecular Correlates

Although time-lapse analysis of early embryo cleavage parameters (morphokinetics) predicts blastocyst development, it has not been definitively linked to establishing pregnancy and live birth. For example, a direct comparison of the developmental potential of embryos with optimal kinetic parameters compared to suboptimal kinetics has not been performed with human embryos. To ascertain whether such a linkage exists, we developed a mouse model of morphokinetic analysis of early embryo cleavage using time-lapse microscopy to predict blastocyst formation and tested whether cleavage parameters predict pregnancy outcome by transferring morphokinetically optimal and suboptimal embryos into a single host. Using classification and regression trees, we established that the timing of the second and third mitotic divisions (division from two to three and three to four cells, respectively) predicts blastocyst development in the mouse. Using this prediction model, we found that the incidence of sustained implantation at mid-gestation was significantly higher for the optimal compared to suboptimal embryos. In addition, the incidence of resorption among implanted embryos was significantly higher in the suboptimal compared to the optimal group. Transcript profiling of optimal and suboptimal embryos revealed minimal differences between the two groups, suggesting that time-lapse imaging of early embryo cleavage events provides additional information regarding developmental competence apart from gene expression.
Habermasian Lifeworld & Durkheimian Anomie: Legitimizing Currency

In this paper I consider the tension between Habermasian System and Lifeworld using as a proxy currency and monetary systems. Ancient and historic currency systems have been displaced in recent centuries by Systemic central banks and nationalized currencies. For the last several decades there is a concurrent global movement toward denationalized currency systems – complementary currencies – which are reclaiming the Lifeworld aspects of commerce. More so, in just the last few years, a particular denationalized currency which spans the globe has arisen in the form of cryptocurrency (contemporarily known as Bitcoins).I argue in this paper that the emergence of complementary currency systems and a global denationalized currency all of which central banker systems have viewed with skepticism but which have rapidly gained traction among individual users is a significant manifestation of Jurgen Habermas’s Lifeworld resisting the System.Furthermore, I predict complementary currency systems will be displaced by a single global denationalized currency. While current complementary currencies are intended to be hyper-local, the quintessence they provide could be scaled. A global denationalized currency like cryptocurrency can provide the homogeneity and Lifeworld characteristics needed for widespread adoption and ultimately displacement of central bank currencies.Finally, I suggest central bank currency systems have subtly fostered Durkheim’s Anomie to which complementary currencies have appeal as an antidote. This is an area in which only limited academic reflection has occurred.For future study I posit the ultimate currency could be a global one based on inputs or outputs of: energy, carbon, time, water or some other inherently human or life representation. These are fundamentally present-life values and do not take into account teaching and education which is needed as well.
ALK-rearranged renal cell carcinomas in children

Knowledge of the clinicopathological and molecular spectrum of pediatric renal cell carcinomas (RCC) remains limited, and approximately 16%-24% of these neoplasms cannot be classified into specific subtypes. In this review of 168 pediatric RCC prospectively registered on Children's Oncology Group AREN03B2 protocol, six RCC (3.5%) that demonstrated a unique epithelioid morphology and a peculiar immunophenotypic profile that includes expression of ALK, TFE3, and retention of INI1 was identified. Further investigation revealed ALK rearrangements in all cases, manifested molecularly by fusion transcripts of either VCL-ALK (3 patients all with sickle cell trait which had been previously reported) or TPM3-ALK (3 patients, none with sickle cell trait). Based on the shared unique morphologic, immunophenotypic, and genetic features, it was proposed that these neoplasms belonged to a distinct subgroup of RCC frequently occurring in pediatric patients, which they have termed as ALK-rearranged RCC. Importantly, additional therapeutic options may be available for these patients.
Policy Learning Mechanisms and the Regulation of US Drinking Water

Can regulatory agencies become learning organizations? The purpose of this article is to assert that they can when the right learning mechanisms are in place. This article utilizes the literatures on US regulatory politics, organizational learning, and policy learning to elaborate the concept of learning mechanisms and examine the circumstances under which they are most likely to be utilized within regulatory agencies. The second half of the article examines the utilization of learning mechanisms within US drinking water regulation during the years when the drinking water policy community was working to formulate and implement the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 (1996–2015). The article concludes by summarizing the findings and offering some propositions for future research.
Reflections on “A Simultaneous Approach to Market Segmentation and Market Structuring”:

The authors reflect on the research process, the review process, and several aspects of their 1987 article, which won the 1992 O'Dell Award.
Swelling the hydrophobic core of surfactant-suspended single-walled carbon nanotubes: a SANS study.

Localized solvent environments form around single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) because of the ability of surfactant molecules to solubilize immiscible organic solvents. Although these microenvironments around SWCNTs have already been used for fundamental and applied studies, small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) was used here to assess the size and shape of the solvent domains, their uniformity and distribution on the sidewalls, and the effect of solvent swelling on the aggregation state of the suspension. SANS measurements confirm both the formation of local solvent environments and that no irreversible aggregation of the nanotube suspension occurs after the SDS molecules are swollen in solvent. The results also corroborate prior conclusions based on photoluminescence that the structure formed is dependent of the nature of the solvent–surfactant combination; SWCNTs suspended with SDS and swelled with benzene have a more uniform coating on the sidewall than those swelled with o-dichlorobenzene. These di...
Plant phenotyping using multi-view stereo vision with structured lights

A multi-view stereo vision system for true 3D reconstruction, modeling and phenotyping of plants was created that successfully resolves many of the shortcomings of traditional camera-based 3D plant phenotyping systems. This novel system incorporates several features including: computer algorithms, including camera calibration, excessive-green based plant segmentation, semi-global stereo block matching, disparity bilateral filtering, 3D point cloud processing, and 3D feature extraction, and hardware consisting of a hemispherical superstructure designed to hold five stereo pairs of cameras and a custom designed structured light pattern illumination system. This system is nondestructive and can extract 3D features of whole plants modeled from multiple pairs of stereo images taken at different view angles. The study characterizes the systems phenotyping performance for 3D plant features: plant height, total leaf area, and total leaf shading area. For plants having specified leaf spacing and size, the algorithms used in our system yielded satisfactory experimental results and demonstrated the ability to study plant development where the same plants were repeatedly imaged and phenotyped over the time.
Another Simple Proof of

(2003). Another Simple Proof of . The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 110, No. 6, pp. 540-541.
Prevalence of hearing loss in children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and characterize the types of hearing loss in pediatric patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS). Methods Fifty-eight patients were identified via retrospective chart review performed of patients with 22q11DS between 1996 and 2014. Patient demographics, pertinent family history, associated comorbidities, and degree and type of hearing loss were gathered for each patient. A literature review of the National Library of Medicine's database with a focus on hearing loss and 22q11DS was performed. Results 22 patients (38%) were found to have hearing impairment: 68% with conductive hearing loss, 14% with sensorineural hearing loss, and 18% with mixed hearing loss. Patients with hearing loss regardless of type had a higher prevalence of developmental delay (55%), cleft palate (23%), articulation disorders (77%), and a greater need for tympanostomy tubes (73%) compared to patients with normal hearing. Temporal bone computed tomography scans of 5 patients revealed a variety of abnormalities in the middle and/or inner ears. Conclusion Hearing impairment occurs in up to 38% of 22q11DS patients of both conductive and sensorineural types, with the conductive type being the most common. These patients have a greater need for tympanostomy tubes and a higher prevalence of developmental delay and speech articulation disorders. Early hearing screening and treatment is warranted in this population.
Dual Constant Composition Studies of the Simultaneous Growth and Dissolution of Calcium Oxalate and Calcium Phosphate

Human urines are usually supersaturated with respect to calcium oxalate phases but in many instances, the liquid phase may also be supersaturated with respect to the calcium phosphates. Urinary stones frequently contain both calcium oxalate and phosphate phases as evidenced by the layer by layer mixture of these salts in many urinary stones. Constant composition studies have previously demonstrated the nucleation and growth of calcium oxalate monohydrates (COM) on hydroxyapatite (HAP) but this technique enables only a single phase to be investigated. In contrast, the dual constant composition method (DCC) enables the crystal growth and dissolution kinetics of mixtures of sparingly soluble electrolytes to be investigated simultaneously. The method has been used to study the transformation of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) to octacalcium phosphate (OCP) as well as the transformation kinetics from one phase to the other. In the present work, the nucleation kinetics of COM on HAP crystals and the concomitant growth of these two phases have been investigated using the DCC method. It has been shown that the rate of COM growth decreases as the phosphate concentration is increased. However, at constant calcium and oxalate concentrations, the apparent concomitant rate of HAP growth was unaffected by changes in phosphate concentration in the concentration range typical of that in urine.