cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
APPLICATION OF 25 NM QUANTUM DOT GATE FETs TO THE DESIGN OF ADC AND DAC CIRCUITS

This paper describes design of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and digital-to-analog onverters (DACs) using field-effect transistors that exhibit three states in their transfer characteristics. An intermediate state "i" has been observed in the transfer characteristics (drain current-gate voltage) of FETs when two layers of cladded quantum dots (e.g. SiOx-Si and GeOx-Ge) are introduced in the gate region above the tunnel insulator between the source and drain regions. Three states in such a transistor, defined as quantum dot gate field-effect transistor (QDG-FET) include two stable states (ON and OFF) and a low-current saturation state "i" in its transfer characteristics. QDG-FETs are quite different in construction than nanodot based nonvolatile memories, reported in the literature, where the quantum dots are sandwiched between a tunnel gate insulator and a relatively thick control gate dielectric. In this paper we present analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) using comparators based on QDG-FETs. A comparator is designed with fewer three-state QDG-FETs. Designs of 3-bit ADC, using 25 nm QDG-FETs, are simulated showing a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of ~18. In addition, the R-2R ladder problem, encountered in conventional analog-to digital converters (ADCs), is absent in QDG-FET based architecture.
The homologous recombination machinery modulates the formation of RNA–DNA hybrids and associated chromosome instability

Genome instability in yeast and mammals is caused by RNA–DNA hybrids that form as a result of defects in different aspects of RNA biogenesis. We report that in yeast mutants defective for transcription repression and RNA degradation, hybrid formation requires Rad51p and Rad52p. These proteins normally promote DNA–DNA strand exchange in homologous recombination. We suggest they also directly promote the DNA–RNA strand exchange necessary for hybrid formation since we observed accumulation of Rad51p at a model hybrid-forming locus. Furthermore, we provide evidence that Rad51p mediates hybridization of transcripts to homologous chromosomal loci distinct from their site of synthesis. This hybrid formation in trans amplifies the genome-destabilizing potential of RNA and broadens the exclusive co-transcriptional models that pervade the field. The deleterious hybrid-forming activity of Rad51p is counteracted by Srs2p, a known Rad51p antagonist. Thus Srs2p serves as a novel anti-hybrid mechanism in vivo. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00505.001
Oxidation-Induced Sintering: An Innovative Method for Manufacturing Porous Ceramics

We report for the first time a novel method of manufacturing macroporous ceramics by oxidation-induced sintering (OIS) of porous compacts composed of Ti powders and fugitive poreformers. Using this novel manufacturing method, novel porous TiO2 ceramics can be fabricated over a wide range of porosity at a relatively faster heating rate (4°C/min) and shorter sintering periods (≤4 h) at 1450°C. The porous ceramics were subsequently characterized by SEM, XRD, and compressive strength measurements. The detailed microstructure study showed that the solid network in these solids is interconnected.
Relationships between measures of function, strength and walking speed in patients with diabetes and transmetatarsal amputation

Objective: To determine the correlation between strength and functional measures, and the intercorrelation between the functional measures themselves, in a group of subjects with diabetes mellitus (DM) and transmetatarsal amputation (TMA).Design: Correlational study.Setting: The subjects were tested in the Applied Kinesiology Laboratory of the Program in Physical Therapy at Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.Subjects: Thirty subjects with DM and TMA (mean age 61.7 ± 11.3 years) were studied.Main outcome measures: Function was measured using the Functional Reach Test (FR), the Physical Performance Test (PPT), the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), and walking speed (WS) for 15.24 m. Strength measurements were taken using a hand-held dynamometer.Results: Highest correlations were found between hip extension strength and PPT: r = 0.69, FR: r = 0.45, and WS: r = 0.76, between knee extension strength and PPT: r = 0.48, and WS: r = 0.51, between hip flexion strength and PPT: r = 0.51, FR: r...
Communication Systems of Channels with Bounded Nondecreasing Costs per Unit of Information Flow

Given a communication system of stations and capacitated channels in which there is associated with each channel a bounded nondecreasing cost per unit of information flow, flow patterns are found that maximize the information rate between a given pair of terminal stations at minimum over-all cost.
Implicit motivational states influence memory: Evidence for motive by state-dependent learning in personality

This article describes three experiments that test the influence of implicit motivational states on learning and memory performance. A consistent pattern of results demonstrated that implicit motivational states are inherently linked to memory and learning processes. First, there is evidence that the strength of implicit motives correlates with the encoding and retrieval of motive-related stimuli. Second, implicit motives interact with arousal states that facilitate selective recall and elaboration of motive-related stimuli. Third, implicit motives interact with arousal states that facilitate, not only selective encoding and recall, but also effort and speed in memory performance. Findings are discussed as evidence for the unique influence of implicit motives on memory within a functional framework.
The effect of computer-mediated communication (CMC) interaction on L2 vocabulary acquisition: A comparison study of CMC interaction and face-to-face interaction

This study investigates the differential effects of CMC interaction (both text-chat and voice-chat) and face-to-face interactions on university level of ESL students’ vocabulary acquisition. More specifically, this study examines (a) whether learners engage in negotiated interaction when they encounter new lexical items, (b) whether CMC interaction help learners acquire new lexical items productively, (c) whether there are any special features related to negotiation routines in the most acquired words and the least acquired words, and (d) whether ESL students find CMC interaction helpful for their English learning. The participants consisted of 12 (6 male, 6 female) international students and visiting scholars at Iowa State University. The research design included a pre-test, a treatment activity, an immediate post-test, and a 1 week delayed post-test. The pre-test containing 24 vocabulary whose referents were auto parts items was given to choose the target lexical items. The type of treatment activity used in this study was an information-gap activity in which the students were required to request and obtain information from each other to complete the task. Two post-tests (immediate and delayed) were administered to assess the acquisition of new lexical items. The immediate and delayed post-tests were offered to students on the treatment day and 1 week after the initial treatment. Finally, a follow-up survey from each participant in CMC interaction group was also used to determine the strengths and weaknesses of computer-assisted language learning (CALL) task and the drawbacks or advantages of using such activities for language learning. The results showed that all ESL learners in both CMC and face-to-face interaction negotiated to complete their tasks, and all of the twelve target lexical items prompted negotiation for all of the dyads. Moreover, the results revealed that the students in all three
Comparative effectiveness of early versus delayed metformin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes

Aim The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of early versus delayed initiation of metformin in type 2 diabetes.
Learning heterogeneous functions from sparse and non-uniform samples

A boosting-based method for centers placement in radial basis function networks (RBFNs) is proposed. Also, the influence of several methods for drawing random samples on the accuracy of RBFNs is examined. The new method is compared to trivial, linear and non-linear regressors including the multilayer perceptron and alternative RBFN learning algorithms and its advantages are demonstrated for learning heterogeneous functions from sparse and non-uniform samples.
Efficient parameter variation sampling for architecture simulations

This paper addresses the problem of efficient and effective parameter variation modeling and sampling in computer architecture simulations. While there has been substantial progress in accelerating simulation time for circuit designs subject to manufacturing variations, these approaches are not generally suitable for architectural studies. Toward this we investigated two complementary avenues: (1) adapting low-discrepancy sampling methods for use in Monte Carlo architectural simulations. We apply techniques previously developed for gate-level circuit models to higher level component models and in so doing drastically reduce the number of samples needed for detailed simulation; (2) applying multi-resolution analysis to appropriately decompose geometric regions of a chip, and achieve more effective description of parameter variations without increasing computational complexity. Our experimental results demonstrate that the combined techniques can reduce the number of Monte Carlo trials by a factor of 3.3, maintaining the same accuracy while significantly reducing the overall simulation run-time.
BIOCHEMISTRY OF CENTIPEDE BIOLUMINESCENCE

— The centipede (Orphaneous brevilabiatus) secretes a bioluminescent slime. The corrected emission spectrum of this luminescence was found to have maxima at about 510 and 480 nm. The reaction was found to require both a luciferin and luciferase and showed an unusually low pH optimum (4.6). Oxygen was required for the reaction, but oxygen could interact with one of the components allowing for anaerobic light emission.
On Labeling Noise and Outliers for Robust Concept Learning for Image Databases

The mixture model for image databases remains as a challenging task since the database may contain clutter and outliers, and labelling information derived from multiple users may be inconsistent. Thus, neither the mixture model nor the labelling information is as ideal as most of the researchers have previously assumed. In this paper, we (a) address the problems of the noise disturbances for both mixture model and users' labelling information, (b) propose to process retrieval experiences in an intelligent manner using Bayesian analysis, (c) present a robust mixture model fitting algorithm to achieve visual concept learning, and (d) construct a concept-based indexing structure for efficient search of the database. The experimental results on a Corel image set show the correctness of our retrieval experience analysis, the effectiveness of the proposed concept learning approach, and the improvement of retrieval performance based on the indexing structure.
Use of Furosemide for Milk-Alkali Syndrome–Reply–I

Dr Homler raises an issue that has been a recent subject of heated discussions. The use of furosemide in management of severe hypercalcemia was beyond the scope of my review article, but I am happy to share my opinion. The article by LeGrand et al that Dr Homler cites concluded that the common practice of furosemide use in management of hypercalcemia is not evidence based. However, it is a well-recognized, evidence-based fact that furosemide induces hypercalciuria and decreases serum calcium levels.1 LeGrand et al do not disagree with these facts. Their claim is that only “a paucity” of evidence shows that furosemide is able to achieve complete “normalization” of serum calcium. The conclusion that furosemide should not be used for hypercalcemia was partly based on the assumption that adequate rehydration and fluid balance monitoring are not standard practice in this clinical setting. That is a very controversial conclusion with which I, along with many other clinicians, do not necessarily agree.1 There is no evidence that alkalosis and renal insufficiency will be exacerbated by diuresis as long as liberal and monitored hydration is used. The reports that conclude that furosemide should no longer be used in management of hypercalcemia are grossly exaggerated.
Two-dimensional optical ring resonators based on radial Bragg resonance

A Bragg-reflection-based ring resonator is proposed and analyzed. Closed-form expressions for the field and dispersion curves for radial Bragg gratings and photonic bandgap crystals are derived. The required gratings exhibit a chirped period and a varying index profile. Small bending radii and strong control over the resonator dispersion are possible by the Bragg confinement. Large free spectral range and low radiation loss are predicted theoretically.
Inquiring Through and With Deleuze: Disrupting Theory and Qualitative Methods in Family Studies

Qualitative inquiry can provide opportunities to utilize and work with theory in new and interesting ways. In this article we suggest that the philosophy of Gilles Deleuze can change, re-create, and infiltrate normative notions of family and innovate inquiry and scholarship. We begin by discussing research, theory, and methodology in family studies and the sameness and simulation present in the field. Then we move to briefly situate Deleuze within a historical and theoretical context, and we discuss immanence and difference as ideas that can disrupt and create potential. Specifically, we discuss Deleuze's concepts difference, rhizome, and becoming. Using these and other ideas, we offer some suggestions concerning how these concepts might be applied in qualitative family inquiry.
Dealing with the Complexity of Settling Private CERCLA Claims: Due Process, Article III, and Sovereign Immunity

The inaugural issue of the St. Thomas Law School’s Journal on Complex Litigation, provides an opportunity to describe in a more comprehensive way the complex constitutional and practical problems with CERCLA’s private cause of action. Part I explains the evolution of the EPA and the DOJ’s position regarding the private cause of action under CERCLA Section 107, the right of contribution under CERCLA Section 113(f), and the effects of a settlement between the Government and potentially responsible parties (“PRPs”) on those rights of action. Part II elaborates constitutional difficulties with the Government’s positions regarding CERCLA’s private cause of action in light of Atlantic Research. First, the article explains how the Government’s position that it can extinguish private party claims constitutes a “protection racket,” because its interpretation of the “contribution protection” provisions of the statute is erroneous and violates Due Process. Second, it explains constitutional difficulties associated with contribution protection arising from the administrative nature of many CERCLA settlements. The constitutionality of Congress’s assignment of possible resolution of a dispute to a non-Article III tribunal is limited to situations where the dispute is “closely integrated into a public regulatory scheme.” While the resolution of the Government’s own cost recovery claims and the extinguishment of related contribution claims clearly involves “public rights,” administrative (i.e. non-judicial) resolution of private CERCLA claims remains questionable. Where a private CERCLA plaintiff is unwilling to submit his response costs claim against other PRPs to the EPA for resolution, the EPA’s administrative extinction of such claim may fall outside of the “public rights” exception to the requirement for Article III-court adjudication of claims. Finally, the article explains why the Eleventh Amendment poses a constitutional obstacle to the resolution of CERCLA claims, whether the resolution is administrative or judicial. Since states are not liable under CERCLA where the plaintiff is not the Government or a state, whether a state is liable and therefore must participate in a CERCLA settlement depends on the prosecutorial discretion of the United States. Part III discusses practical and strategic considerations in litigating CERCLA cases in light of the complexities caused by the private cause of action and these constitutional limitations. Finally, the article offers the EPA some advice in how to settle or resolve CERCLA cases in light of these complexities.
Exploring The Effects Of Social Exchange Relationships On The Scholarly Productivity Of New Faculty Members In Accounting

This paper explores how social relationships between new accounting faculty members and their former dissertation chairs can influence the publishing productivity of the new faculty members in their early academic careers. The focus on social relationships offers a unique approach to studying the effectiveness doctoral education. Our findings show that strong social exchange between new faculty members and their former chairs can have a significant impact on new faculty members’ scholarly productivity and provide some reasons for those effects. We also find differences in relationships between mixed and same gender pairs and examine reasons for those differences.
Writing pal: Feasibility of an intelligent writing strategy tutor in the high school classroom

The Writing Pal (W-Pal) is a novel intelligent tutoring system (ITS) that offers writing strategy instruction, game-based practice, essay writing practice, and formative feedback to developing writers. Compared to more tractable and constrained learning domains for ITS, writing is an ill-defined domain because the features of effective writing are difficult to quantify and individual writers can employ diverse strategies to achieve similar goals. The development of an ITS in an ill-defined domain presents particular challenges regarding comprehensive instruction, modularized content, extended practice, and formative feedback. In this article, we describe how the development of W-Pal has uniquely addressed these concerns and present the results of a study assessing the feasibility of this system in high school English classrooms. This study included 2 teachers and their 141 10th grade English class students who utilized W-Pal over a 6-month period during the academic year. Log-file analyses showed that students used all aspects of W-Pal, but activity and engagement was uneven throughout the year and decreased over time. Essay scores improved over time and surveys indicated that students perceived the lessons, games, and feedback as beneficial. However, specific aspects of the learning environment were critiqued as annoying, challenging, or lacking specificity. Overall, the results suggest that the system was generally well-received by the students but also offer insights for the development of ITSs in ill-defined domains.
Maternal sensitivity and adrenocortical functioning across infancy and toddlerhood: Physiological adaptation to context?

Theory suggests that early experiences may calibrate the “threshold activity” of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis in childhood. Particularly challenging or particularly supportive environments are posited to manifest in heightened physiological sensitivity to context. Using longitudinal data from the Family Life Project (N = 1,292), we tested whether links between maternal sensitivity and hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis activity aligned with these predictions. Specifically, we tested whether the magnitude of the within-person relation between maternal sensitivity and children's cortisol levels, a proxy for physiological sensitivity to context, was especially pronounced for children who typically experienced particularly low or high levels of maternal sensitivity over time. Our results were consistent with these hypotheses. Between children, lower levels of mean maternal sensitivity (7–24 months) were associated with higher mean cortisol levels across this period (measured as a basal sample collected at each visit). However, the magnitude and direction of the within-person relation was contingent on children's average levels of maternal sensitivity over time. Increases in maternal sensitivity were associated with contemporaneous cortisol decreases for children with typically low-sensitive mothers, whereas sensitivity increases were associated with cortisol increases for children with typically high-sensitive mothers. No within-child effects were evident at moderate levels of maternal sensitivity.
Comparison of Eight Kits for the Diagnosis of Pregnancy

The results obtained with eight pregnancy kits on 735 urines were compared. Overall accuracies were similar and fairly high (93.4 to 95.37%), although only 78.28% of all pregnancies were simultaneously detected by all eight kits. It is suggested that the different performances of each kit could be accounted for not only by lack of product homologation, differences in kit sensitivity, and laboratorian error, but also by the presence of various hormonal components in various concentrations in the urines of pregnant women, and by the presence of different antibodies against these hormonal components in various concentrations in the antisera included in the various kits.
Changes in Sources of Community Long-Term Care Among African American and White Frail Older Persons

This study examined race differences in changes in source of long-term care. We addressed the following questions: (1) Are there differences between African Americans and Whites in the patterns of transitions among community longterm care, institutionalization, and death? (2) Are there differences between African American and White populations in sociodemographic characteristics and functional limitations influencing source of long-term care in a two-year follow-up sample? (3) Controlling for socioeconomic status, health status, level of informal care, and demographic variables, are there differences between African Americans and Whites in patterns of change to informal and mixed (informal and formal) care among community-dwelling frail older persons? and, (4) What are the predictors of change patterns within African American and White populations of older frail persons? The source of data is the longitudinal component of the 1982-1984 National Long Term Care Survey (NLTCS). Results of multinomial logistic analysis indicate few differences in change patterns, despite differences in the context of care among African American and White frail older persons.
Ethylene Regulation and Function of Flower Senescence-Related Genes

The senescence of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) flower petals is associated with increased synthesis of the phytohormone ethylene. This ethylene serves to initiate and regulate the processes of programmed organ death. We have isolated and cloned mRNAs which encode the ethylene biosynthetic pathway enzymes 1aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylate (ACC) synthase and ACC oxidase. These cDNAs have been used to study the regulation of ethylene biosynthesis during flower petal senescence. The increase in ethylene production and onset of petal senescence are associated with dramatic changes in gene expression. Several senescence-related (SR) mRNAs have been isolated and used to study specific changes in gene expression during flower petal senescence. In several cases, the increase in SR mRNA abundance occurs concomitant with the ethylene climacteric. Indeed, treatment of flowers with inhibitors of ethylene synthesis or action prevents petal senescence and the accumulation of SR mRNAs. Sequence analysis of SR mRNAs has revealed homologies with other known proteins, which in some cases points to putative roles of these genes in the regulation of petal senescence. In order to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of SR gene expression, we have initiated an analysis of the cis-elements responsible for developmental and hormonal gene regulation during floral senescence.
Assessment of the Deep Sea Wreck USS Independence

As part of ongoing efforts to better understand the nature of shipwrecks in National Marine Sanctuaries which may pose some level of pollution risk, and in this case, to definitively locate what is likely the only shipwreck in a sanctuary involved in both nuclear testing and nuclear waste disposal, NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries collaborated with NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and The Boeing Company, which provided their autonomous underwater vehicle, Echo Ranger, to conduct the first deep-water archaeological survey of the scuttled aircraft carrier USS Independence in the waters of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) in March 2015. The presence of the deep-sea scuttled “radioactive” aircraft carrier USS Independence off the California coast has been the source of consistent media speculation and public concern for decades. The survey confirmed that a sonar target charted at the location was Independence, and provided details on the condition of the wreck, and revealed no detectable levels of radioactivity. At the same time, new information from declassified government reports provided more detail on Independence’s use as a naval test craft for radiological decontamination as well as its use as a repository for radioactive materials at the time of its scuttling in 1951. While further surveys may reveal more, physical assessment and focused archival work has demonstrated that the level of concern and speculation of “danger” from either a radioactive or oil pollution threat posed may be exaggerated.
Open Umbilical Hernia Repair

Umbilical hernias are common primary ventral hernias and many become symptomatic over time. In the following chapter, we will review the open repair of umbilical hernias with and without mesh reinforcement.
Wavelet based photoplethysmogram foot delineation for heart rate variability applications

A novel and easily implemented delineation algorithm is presented, which allows the foot of the photoplethsymogram to be located with sufficient accuracy for heart rate variability applications. This algorithm combines classical delineation techniques with the robustness of the wavelet transform. It can be implemented with a set of FIR filters and simple non-adaptive thresholding, making it suitable for real-time ambulatory applications. Results show that the accuracy of the algorithm matches that of a standard electrocardiogram delineation algorithm, the current standard for heart rate variability applications. The algorithm presented herein is also compared against four state-of-the-art delineation algorithms. Using a database that contains exercise data from thirteen patients across six activity levels and 7012 beats, a temporal accuracy of 3.8±2.6 ms (mean±std) was achieved with a sensitivity of 99.29% and a positive predictive value of 99.23%.
One-Dimensional Partially Oxidized Tetracyanoplatinate Metals: New Results and Summary

In this section we have been requested to review the status of research dealing with the physical and chemical properties of partially oxidized tetracyanoplatinate (POTCP) complexes and their analogues of which the prototype is K2[Pt(CN)4]Br0.3⋅3H2O, “KCP(X)” where X = Br- or Cl-.1 If such a request for an up-to-date review had been proferred less than 5 years ago, there would have been very few partially oxidized tetracyanoplatinate POTCP analogues, other than KCP(Cl) and KCP(Br), to discuss. Fortunately, in the past two years a large number of new POTCP complexes with unique physical properties have been synthesized. The new salts display among other things, vastly different materials properties, differing degrees of partial oxidation (DPO) of the Pt atoms, unusual and variable crystal structures, and in some cases electrical conductivities (greatly increased!) over that of prototypic KCP(Br,Cl). Our search to characterize POTCP materials is based on the goal of determining what determines their unique properties, as expressed in 1974 by Bloch and Weisman:2 “It appears likely that the partially oxidized Krogmann salts are chemically unique systems in which, by accident, a set of rather exacting energetic and structural criteria are simultaneously satisfied”.
Intentional Omission of Ureteral Stents During Robotic-assisted Intracorporeal Ureteroenteric Anastomosis: Is It Safe and Feasible?

Objective To describe the surgical technique we used to perform a stentless intracorporeal ureteroenteric anastomosis and to determine the outcomes in this initial series. Methods We performed a retrospective review of a prospective database of all patients undergoing robotic-assisted intracorporeal urinary diversion with stentless ureteroenteric anastomosis between March 2014 and July 2016. Diversions were performed at the time of either robotic-assisted laparoscopic cystectomy for bladder cancer or urinary diversion for other indications. Results A total of 10 patients underwent implantation of 20 ureters into the intestine via a robotic-assisted approach with intentional omission of stents. Median body mass index was 29.57 (first quartile 23.68, third quartile 34.69). Median American Society of Anesthesiologists score was 3 (range 2-3). Seven patients had intracorporeal ileal conduit reconstruction and 3 patients had an intracorporeal neobladder creation. There were no patients who developed a stricture of the ureter nor did any patient develop a leak at the ureteroenteric anastomosis. All patients had normal serum creatinine at least 4 weeks after surgery, and all patients had follow-up computed tomography of the kidneys, which were normal. The median follow-up was 8 months (first quartile = 3 months, third quartile = 17 months). Conclusion Robotic intracorporeal urinary diversion with intentional omission of ureteral stents is a safe and feasible option when establishing continuity of the genitourinary and gastrointestinal tracts.
Incidence of colorectal carcinoma following liver transplantation: A retrospective analysis using the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database.

542Background: Since 1988, approximately 145,000 liver transplants (LT) have been performed in the United States, with 7,127 in 2015 alone. Several malignancies occur more frequently in solid organ transplant recipients. Studies have shown increased risk of Colorectal cancer (CRC) post LT in adults with primary sclerosing cholangitis, whether the risk of de novo CRC is increased or not remains controversial. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using the UNOS database. Between-group differences in CRC rates were compared using Fisher’s exact test whereas, the differences in observed years between liver transplant and CRC were compared using negative binomial regression models. Results: We retrospectively analyzed 12,337 recipients of LT within the UNOS database. The overall incidence of CRC post LT was estimated to be at 3.8 percent. Interestingly, the incidence was higher in women and non-obese recipients. All immunosuppressive agents within the limits of the database were analysed for mainten...
Optical Absorption, Stability and Structure of NpO2+ Complexes with Dicarboxylic Acids

Complexation of NpO2 + with oxalic acid (OX), 2,2’-oxydiacetic acid (ODA), 2,2’-iminodiacetic acid (IDA) and 2,2’-thiodiacetic acid (TDA), has been studied using spectrophotometry in 1 M NaClO4. Both the position and the intensity of the absorption band of NpO2 + at 980 nm are affected by the formation of NpO2 +/dicarboxylate complexes, providing useful information on the complexation strength, the coordination mode and the structure of the complexes.
Current Trends in Renal Surgery and Observation for Small Renal Masses

There has been a rising incidence of small renal masses and concomitant downward stage migration. This has led to an evolution in the management of kidney cancer from radical nephrectomy to nephron-sparing treatment options including observation. The adoption of partial nephrectomy continues to increase but is still incomplete leading to significant disparities in the delivery of care throughout the country. Surgical excision remains the treatment of choice for small kidney cancers; however, ablative therapies and active surveillance are emerging as reasonable options for select patients. With continued refinements in treatment options and improvements in ability to risk stratify SRMs, the current treatment trends will likely continue to evolve.
Pascal: Gott würfelt nicht, aber der Mensch (1654)

Blaise Pascal war ein Universalgenie. Er hat sich in seinem Leben mit Philosophie und Theologie beschaftigt, aber auch mit Projektiver Geometrie, Wahrscheinlichkeitstheorie, dem Bau von Rechenmaschinen und mit dem Luftdruck. Am bekanntesten sind vielleicht seine Arbeiten zur Grundlegung der Wahrscheinlichkeitstheorie, die sogar seine theologischen Uberlegungen beeinflusst haben. Anlass bot eine Frage, die eigentlich nur Glucksspieler interessiert: Was ist mein Spiel wert, wenn es vorzeitig abgebrochen werden muss? Kann man aus dem bisherigen Spielverlauf entnehmen, welcher Anteil vom Gesamteinsatz mir dann zusteht? Pascal gelingt es, diese Frage exakt zu beantworten. Die Probleme, die er dazu losen muss (etwa, wie viele Sequenzen der Lange n es gibt, die nur aus Nullen und Einsen bestehen und genau k-mal die Eins enthalten) sind sehr grundlegend und lassen sich auch auf andere mathematische Probleme anwenden, zum Beispiel die Berechnung von (a+b)n aus den Potenzen von a und b (binomische Formel).
DrMP: Mixed Precision-Aware DRAM for High Performance Approximate and Precise Computing

Recent studies showed that DRAM restore time degrades as technology scales, which imposes large performance and energy overheads. This problem, prolonged restore time (PRT), has been identified by the DRAM industry as one of three major scaling challenges.This paper proposes DrMP, a novel fine-grained precision-aware DRAM restore scheduling approach, to mitigate PRT. The approach exploits process variations (PVs) within and across DRAM rows to save data with mixed precision. The paper describes three variants of the approach: DrMP-A, DrMP-P, and DrMP-U. DrMP-A supports approximate computing by mapping important data bits to fast row segments to reduce restore time for improved performance at a low application error rate. DrMP-P pairs memory rows together to reduce the average restore time for precise computing. DrMP-U combines DrMP-A and DrMP-P to better trade performance, energy consumption, and computation precision. Our experimental results show that, on average, DrMP achieves 20% performance improvement and 15% energy reduction over a precision-oblivious baseline. Further, DrMP achieves an error rate less than 1% at the application level for a suite of benchmarks, including applications that exhibit unacceptable error rates under simple approximation that does not differentiate the importance of different bits.
Subcutaneous local anesthetic infusion could eliminate use of epidural analgesia after the Nuss procedure.

AIM To compare outcomes of continuous subcutaneous infusion of local anesthetic and epidural analgesia following the Nuss procedure. PATIENTS & METHODS A retrospective chart review compared patients managed with subcutaneous local anesthetic infusion (n = 12) versus thoracic epidural (n = 19) following the Nuss procedure from March 2013 to June 2015. RESULTS There was no difference in hospital length of stay or days on intravenous narcotics. Epidural catheter placement prolonged operating room time (146.58 ± 28.30 vs 121.42 ± 21.98 min, p = 0.01). Average pain scores were slightly higher in the subcutaneous infusion group (3.72 ± 1.62 vs 2.35 ± 0.95, p = 0.02), but of negligible clinical significance. CONCLUSION Continuous subcutaneous infusion of local anesthetic could eliminate the need for thoracic epidural for pain management after the Nuss procedure.
Safe Harbor or Smoke Screen? Compliance and Disclosure Under SEC Rule 10b-18

Is a safe harbor without disclosure anything more than a smoke screen? The history of open market repurchase regulation began with lawsuits which alleged the use of repurchases to manipulate the market during mergers and acquisitions having terms contingent on stock price. After 13 years of debate over proposed regulations, the SEC instituted safe harbor Rule 10b-18, which remains today as the rule and guide for corporations wishing to protect themselves from charges of repurchase-related manipulation. In addition to replacing a proscriptive orientation, 10b-18 imposed none of the previously proposed disclosure requirements. Accordingly, irrespective of a company's assertions regarding compliance, the public (and the SEC) cannot observe compliance in the absence of additional disclosure. While the SEC might compel additional disclosure on a case-by-case basis, it is not clear how others could, in the face of an assertion of compliance, assemble enough evidence to begin a discovery action. Thus, while Rule 10b-18 may be a legitimate safe harbor for some, the absence of verifiability potentially makes it an effective smoke screen for others. Using privately disclosed data, we investigate claimed and actual 10b-18 compliance for NYSE and NASDAQ firms. Our finding that more than half of the 64 repurchase programs in our sample failed to comply with 10b-18, along with the self-selection argument that respondents are more likely to comply than non-respondents, suggests that 10b-18 may not be a significant factor in repurchase program execution. Our finding that firms which declared compliance failed to comply suggests that 10b-18's unobservable safe harboring may actually encourage misleading claims of compliance. While perhaps consistent with the cost-benefit analysis conducted in the deregulatory environment of the early 1980's, surely such an outcome was not intended by the legislative mandate given in the Williams Act.
Journalism as Model for Civic and Information Literacies

ABSTRACTJournalism can serve as a generative disciplinary context for developing civic and information literacies needed to meaningfully participate in an increasingly networked and mediated public...
Radioactive Aerosols: Tracer Applications and Outdoor Transport

This final chapter continues the subjects of transport and modeling of radioactive aerosols by expanding discussion to the outdoor environment. We start with a discussion of wet (involving rain and snow) and dry (not involving rain and snow) deposition of aerosol particles to the earth’s surface. These are major removal processes for outdoor aerosol particles that, explicitly or implicitly, must be incorporated into most outdoor transport models. We next introduce the use of radioactive aerosols for tracer and timing studies. This is an important application involving radioactive aerosols that has proven to be useful for understanding a number of physical processes in the outdoor atmosphere such as atmospheric circulation patterns and aerosol-particle removal rates. Although tracer techniques are used to study complex processes in the atmosphere, many of the basic methods and examples can be understood as a “stand-alone” subject without prior exposure to atmospheric transport models.
DIASTOLIC DYSFUNCTION: STRONGEST INDEPENDENT RISK FACTOR FOR CONTRAST INDUCED NEPHROPATHY IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY

Contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) is often a cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality following coronary angiography. Patients who develop CIN have a 5 fold higher in-hospital mortality while 20-30% have an increased 1 year mortality. It is well established that congestive heart failure and
Husserl on Communication and Knowledge Sharing in the Logical Investigations and a 1931 Manuscript

In the Logical Investigations, Husserl argues that “sign” is an ambiguous word because it refers to two essentially different signitive functions: indication and expression. Indications work in an evidential way, providing information through a direct association of the sign and the presence of an object or state of affairs. Expressions (when used to transmit knowledge) work in a non-evidential way, pointing to possible experiences and displaying that the speaker or someone else has had such experience. In this paper I show that Husserl went back to the distinction between indications and expressions in a much later text, a manuscript from 1931, in order to distinguish between two kinds of communication with different essential features. I call these indicative and expressive communication. My claim is that Husserl’s distinction between these two types of communication is a crucial contribution to the phenomenology of knowledge sharing. In knowledge sharing, we appropriate someone else’s knowledge as someone else’s knowledge. Husserl shows that only expressive communication, and not indicative communication, makes this appropriation possible. Since Husserl argues that only humans use expressive communication, his analysis of indicative and expressive communication is also a contribution to understanding the uniquely human capacity for accumulating knowledge.
Follow-up Management of Cystectomy Patients.

Bladder cancer is the sixth leading cancer in the United States. Radical cystectomy is a lifesaving procedure for bladder cancer with or without muscle invasion. Radical cystectomy is performed on 39% of these patients, and 35% will have a life-threatening recurrence. Distant metastases are the most common; local, upper tract, and urethral recurrence can also occur. Surveillance after cystectomy is critical to diagnosing recurrence early. Functional complications after urinary diversion include bowel dysfunction, vitamin B12 deficiency, acidosis, electrolyte abnormalities, osteopenia, nephrolithiasis, urinary tract infections, renal functional decline, and urinary obstruction, which can be reversed when diagnosed early.
Reintegrating Theories, Methods, and Historical Analysis in Teaching Sociology

We discuss ways of bringing theory and methods into conversation with each other within courses and across the sociology curriculum. Theory is often taught completely separately from research methods, which in turn are simplistically divided into quantitative and qualitative. To counter this fragmented approach to the discipline we discuss two major paradigms, a social-forces paradigm often linked to quantitative research and an interpretive paradigm often linked to qualitative inquiry. But at a deeper level both paradigms require an understanding of historical context. The relationship between these two paradigms and more familiar categories of theory such as "functionalism" and "conflict theories" is not straightforward. We conclude the discussion by describing classroom-tested strategies that help students explore the complexity of the linkages between theories and empirical inquiry.
Work, culture, and play in the neoliberal condition

Foucault’s [2008. The birth of biopolitics: Lectures at the college de France 1978–1979. New York, NY: Picador] lectures on neoliberalism present a powerful challenge to the Marxist critique of cap...
New Perspectives On Automatic And Morphophonological Alternations: Harmonic Processes In Two Peninsular Varieties Of Spanish

The present study investigated vowel harmony (VH) in two varieties of Peninsular Spanish - Eastern Andalusian and Montanes. Despite both varieties exhibiting VH, the triggers and targets for each variety result in metaphonic alternations that are quite distinct. Although previous research has extensively documented the VH of Andalusia and Montanes, no study has yet systematically compared the two using a singular metric for determining automatic (i.e., phonological) and morphophonological alternations. To address these questions, VH in each variety is described in detail and then classified as either an automatic or morphophonological alternation according to the following eight criteria indicated in Haspelmath and Sims (2010): phonological versus morphological or lexical conditioning, phonetic coherency, phonetic distance, restriction to derived environments, extension to loanwords, sensitivity to speech-style, creation of new segments, and restriction to the word level. In order to gain a more compete understanding of the morphology-phonology interface in Spanish, we explore similarities and differences in the VH of Eastern Andalusia and of the north of Spain. We seek to determine if VH in each region is more characteristic of automatic or morphophonological alternations. An in-depth analysis of the VH in each variety is revealed that a binary classification was less appropriate than viewing these alternations on a continuum. The nuanced representation of these alternations on a continuum is a unique contribution to the literature on Spanish VH and provides a fresh perspective on the nature of VH alternations in Peninsular Spanish.
Recent Advances in Hemocompatible Polymers for Biomedical Applications

Blood-material interactions are critical to the success of implantable medical devices that are used in thousands of patients every day. Some common blood-contacting devices include catheters, stents, vascular grafts, heart valve prostheses, and extracorporeal circulation/membrane oxygenation systems. Among other complications, thrombosis and clot formation remains one of the major challenges in clinical application of these devices. The initial biological response of blood to a foreign surface is the rapid adsorption of plasma proteins, which is followed by platelet adhesion and activation, and ultimately thrombus formation. The key factors in clot formation are the chemical and physical nature of the surfaces and their interactions with the blood components, such as platelets and plasma proteins. Despite decades of research, an ideal non-thrombogenic surface is still yet to be identified and clinical use of these blood-contacting devices requires use of anticoagulation agents, increasing the risk of bleeding in patients. In this chapter, we will review some of the current and most promising strategies that have been used over the years to develop polymeric materials with improved hemocompatibility, including highly hydrophilic or hydrophobic surfaces, albumin coated surfaces, zwitterionic polymers, attached endothelial cells, patterned surfaces, immobilized heparin, and nitric oxide (NO) releasing/generating surfaces. We will also discuss some of the important techniques employed (using in vitro and in vivo models) to assess the hemocompatibility of any new material, including the measurement of platelet preservation, platelet and protein adhesion, the effect of flow rates on thrombosis, and the ultimate surface clot area.
Legitimizing ‘Repugnancy’ in Law: Peirce and Contradiction

This paper intends to show that indeterminacy in law as required by open, evolving systems of law not only must tolerate so-called repugnancies or contradictions in the law, but must regard such inconsistencies as signs that, in the substructure of practical law there are logical possibilities which do not always surface in the manifest activities of legal activities but which exist as part of the legal system, i.e. as legal facts.
Substance Abuse Treatment and Corrections

It would be difficult to find a subpopulation with higher rates of substance use disorders than offenders. In the United States in1999, there were a total of 43.8 million contacts between police and U.S. citizens in their jurisdiction including traffic stops and other matters (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2001) resulting in about 15 million arrests (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2000a). In cities participating in an Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) program (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2000b), an average of 65.8% of male arrestees and 64.2% of female arrestees tested positive for an illicit drug at arrest. Still more offenders are problematically involved with drugs and alcohol but do not test positive at the time of arrest (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2000a). In sum, the vast majority of those incarcerated, at least in the United States, show a diagnosable substance use disorder.