cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A amostragem de trabalho

ela omais "sentido",discutido econtrovertido dosfenomenos de ordem economica.Nestas condicoes,qualquer tentativa de analise fria e ob-jetiva da inflacao e facilmente dificultada pelos efeitosque o aviltamento da moeda produz no âmbito de nossasatividades, experiencias e perspectivas pessoais. Ademais,nao dispomos de elementos que possam servir de padrao.para medir o grau de influencia que ela exerce sobre odesenvolvimento economico do Brasil, pois praticamentedesconhecemos situacoes em que opais tivesse progredidoconsideravelmente na ausencia de inflacao. Sabemos, ape-nas, da possibilidade de haver coexistencia entre uma ele-vada taxa de crescimento economico e um alto grau dedepreciacao monetaria.Ao que parece, a opiniao publica brasileira e, particular-mente, a da classe empresarial, tem sido grandemente in-fluenciada por essa coexistencia, a ponto de atribuir o
Ambient solar UV radiation causes mortality in larvae of three species of Rana under controlled exposure conditions.

Abstract Recent reports concerning the lethal effects of solar ultraviolet-B (UV-B) (290–320 nm) radiation on amphibians suggest that this stressor has the potential to impact some amphibian populations. In this study embryos and larvae of three anuran species, Rana pipiens, Rana clamitans and Rana septentrionalis, were exposed to full-spectrum solar radiation and solar radiation filtered to attenuate UV-B radiation or UV-B and ultraviolet-A (UV-A) (290–380 nm) radiation to determine the effects of each wavelength range on embryo and larval survival. Ambient levels of solar radiation were found to be lethal to all three species under exposure conditions that eliminated shade and refuge. Lethality was ameliorated by filtration of UV-B radiation alone, demonstrating that ambient UV-B radiation is sufficient to cause mortality. Although several studies have qualitatively demonstrated the lethality of UV-B to early life stage amphibians this study demonstrates that the larval life stages of the three species ...
Hydraulic Studies of Large Penstock Trifurcation

Hydraulic investigations of the trifurcation of a 23-ft diameter penstock are presented. The trifurcation that directs flow to three Francis turbines having a combined power capacity of 247,050 kw with 12,000 cfs discharging may, on rare occurrences, pass to 18,000 cfs. In the main penstock the Reynold’s number is approximately 9 × 10\U7\N maximum, with normal operating ranges as high as 6 × 10\U7\N. Recommendations concerning design and operation, based on this study, are made. The studies include energy losses, pressures (static and dynamic), and expected shed vorticity from a central tie-bar.
Focus on...Section 457 Exemptions

The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA) made substantial changes to the rules governing deferred compensation plans of governmental and tax-exempt employers under Code Section 457. In addition, on July 10, 2003, the IRS issued final regulations under Code Section 457, which provide broad guidance on eligible deferred compensation plans, and clear standards for their administration and operation. [See 'Final Guidance Issued on 457 Plans' by Amelia M. Klein, Journal of Pension Benefits, Winter 2004, Vol. 11, No. 2, p. 85.] This article discusses the plans of eligible Section 457 employers that are exempt from the requirements of Code Section 457. In this article, any reference to a "plan" or "457 plan" refers to a plan that satisfies the requirements for an eligible deferred compensation plan (IRC § 457(b)), unless the context indicates otherwise. (*Correction, the last 18 words of text are missing at the very end of the article on page 38. The last line should read in its entirety: 'Meanwhile, employers should proceed with caution and bear in mind that, as in many other areas of the tax law, a plan that seems too good to be true probably is.')
Development of Combinatorial Pulsed Laser Deposition for Expedited Device Optimization in CdTe/CdS Thin-Film Solar Cells

A combinatorial pulsed laser deposition system was developed by integrating a computer controlled scanning sample stage in order to rapidly screen processing conditions relevant to CdTe/CdS thin-film solar cells. Using this system, the thickness of the CdTe absorber layer is varied across a single sample from 1.5 μm to 0.75 μm. The effects of thickness on CdTe grain morphology, crystal orientation, and cell efficiency were investigated with respect to different postprocessing conditions. It is shown that the thinner CdTe layer of 0.75 μm obtained the best power conversion efficiency up to 5.3%. The results of this work shows the importance that CdTe grain size/morphology relative to CdTe thickness has on device performance and quantitatively exhibits what those values should be to obtain efficient thin-film CdTe/CdS solar cells fabricated with pulsed laser deposition. Further development of this combinatorial approach could enable high-throughput exploration and optimization of CdTe/CdS solar cells.
Conclusion and Rejoinders

At a time when both the value of gender mainstreaming as well as of higher education itself is being debated, this collection of essays on gender mainstreaming in the discipline of political science is an important rejoinder regarding the necessity of both. First, implicit in these essays is a reminder that the value of a college education resides as much in its contribution to the maintenance of democratic life in the United States as it does in the possibility of earning a good salary. Indeed, entwined with the advocacy of gender mainstreaming in the discipline of political science is a belief that the discipline itself contributes to the development of empowered democratic citizens and the cultivation of a robust political culture. The study and teaching of politics is part of how we learn to participate in political life: political science is a form of civic education. Including women—all women as well as all men—in the curriculum of political science ensures the vitality of our democracy. Further, including women in the discipline both as faculty and as students ensures that the agenda of the discipline itself will be transformed. After a decade of gender mainstreaming, the goal remains not only to ensure that women become part of the mainstream, but also that they transform the mainstream.
John Marshall and the Burr Trial

THAT political bias, rather than legal principle, controlled Chief Justice John Marshall's decisive actions at the trial of Aaron Burr for treason in 1807 remains the prevailing view among historians, despite two recent studies of contrary tenor. The opinion is mistaken and its correction is important. Not only does Marshall's reputation yet suffer from the judgment of the distinguished scholar, Edward S. Corwin, that the trial exhibits "the one serious blemish on his judicial record," but understanding of the trial itself is clouded by the obscurity attending Marshall's role. It seems that even modern law has been muddied by the controversy. Congress' official edition of the Constitution, still influenced by Corwin, holds the great Chief Justice's "vacillation . . . between the Bollmann and Burr cases" to be one reason why "the law of treason [is] in a somewhat doubtful condition."' The prevailing belief was most cogently spelled out, if not originated, by Corwin in 1919.2 Corwin seemed to feel that only political bias, in the crude sense of antipathy toward Thomas Jefferson, could explain what appeared to him manifest difficulties in Marshall's conduct. Chief among these were inconsistencies between Marshall's decisive opinions at Burr's trial and common law principles by which the Constitution's treason clause must be interpreted and with which Marshall himself had expressly agreed
The Basidia of Exidia Nucleata. I. Ultrastructure

The realization of the taxonomic value of the morphology of the basidia of the Tremellales began with the studies of L. R. and C. Tulasne (18, 19, 20). Since their studies, the basidia, rather than the form of the basidiocarps, have formed the basis of the taxonomic systems of most students (e.g., 8) of the saprobic Heterobasidiomycetidae. Investigations with the electron microscope of tremellaceous basidia should contribute to improvements in interpretations of basidia as taxonomic and biological entities. The present report deals with the ultrastructure of the basidia, including the sub-basidial septa, of Exidia nucleata (Schw.) Burt. A developmental study of the basidia of this species using the electron microscope will be presented separately (23).
Renegotiating Soviet Federalism: Glasnost and Regional Autonomy

The current expansion of free political association under glasnost' has focused the political energies of mobilized national movements on demands for republican autonomy. Reform-minded elements in the Gorbachev leadership have encouraged these movements, seeing them as counterweights to central governmental bureaucracy. Aspirations for national statehood have reached fullest expression in the Baltic republics, where the republican parliaments have expressed overwhelming support for economic and cultural sovereignty, but such sentiments are voiced by national intelligentsias in each republic. Moscow has adopted a program of republican decentralization as a solution to the growing problem of the federal budget deficit, but the implications of republican economic autonomy for the cohesiveness of the federal union are fundamental and far-reaching.
Recurrent urinary tract infection in the female patient.

The incidence of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and indications for prostatectomy are compared among earlier studies with the preliminary results of a recent national cooperative study of 3,885 patients undergoing transurethral prostatectomies at thirteen health centers in the United States. Clinical evidence indicates that TURP continues to be a successful procedure, with 97 percent of patients doing well in the first four months postoperatively in the most recent study. Although the incidence of TURP-related morbidity has been relatively consistent among three large-scale studies conducted during the past three decades, mortality has steadily declined from 2.5 percent to 0.2 percent.
The Proposed Introduction of Futures - Style Margining in the U.S.: An Australian Comparison

We extend the quadratic approximation method to examine American-style options traded using futures-style margining and show that an early exercise premium can exist when the cost of carry is negative. Empirical results based on a reduced form of the model using futures-style call options traded on the Australian All Ordinaries Share Price Index, are consistent with previous research - call option early exercise premiums are economically zero. Full option prices are examined by comparing observed futures-style with theoretical stock-style values. We find futures-style exceed stock-style values and argue that the increase results from improvements in liquidity. The findings are particularly relevant given the pending decision at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to introduce a futures-style system in the United States.
Health Administration Systems, Policy, and Management

Publisher Summary Academics and practicing managers and executives continually search for methodologies and concepts that will help them develop their organizations, including the planning and policymaking work that contributes to efficiency and effectiveness. This chapter discusses the use of the Kast and Rosenzweig systems and contingency model for teaching and practice in organizational analysis and planning, management policy, and organizational development. The need for an organizational model for graduate students and field-based managers and executives is identified. The teaching and practice uses of the model in four areas are organizational analysis, organizational planning, management policymaking, and organizational development. The use of the model indicates its contribution to growing systems thinking managers and students in a wide variety of courses and field projects. Other faculty and consultants may choose other models to work with, but some model must be selected to help to surface assumptions and guide analysis, planning, policy, and development.
Incidence and Levels of Fusarium moniliforme, Fusarium proliferatum and Fumonisins in Corn and Corn-Based Foods and Feeds1

Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon occurs worldwide on corn intended for human and animal consumption. A closely related species Fusarium proliferatum also occurs frequently on corn. Yellow dent corn, white dent corn, white and yellow popcorn and sweetcorn may be contaminated. Both organisms are capable of producing a group of toxins known as fumonisins, of which Fumonisin B1 (FB1), Fumonisin B2 (FB2) and Fumonisin B3 (FB3) are most common. Fumonisins have been found in corn and corn-based foods worldwide. Fumonisins may be found in sound whole kernel corn at levels at or below 1.0 μg/g. By contrast animal disease problems begin to occur at fumonisin levels above 5.0 to 10.0 μg/g. Corn-based food products that have the most frequent and highest fumonisin levels, besides whole kernels, are corn meal and corn grits. In the United States, corn meal has been found contaminated with Fumonisin B1 at levels from 0.5 to 2.05 μg/g, and grits from 0.14 to 0.27 μg/g. Corn flakes, corn pops, corn chips and tortilla chips have been found negative for fumonisins. Popcorn, sweetcorn and hominy corn have been found contaminated with sporadic, low levels (0.01 to 0.08 μg/g) of fumonisins. The effects of processing on fumonisins in corn are still largely unknown. Heating may cause a loss of fumonisins in corn, but it may be a loss of detectability rather than degradation.
Optimal segment size for fixed-sized segment protection in wavelength-routed optical networks

Protecting a network against link failures is a major challenge faced by network operators. The protection scheme has to address two important objectives - fast recovery and minimizing the amount of backup resources needed. Every protection algorithm is a tradeoff between these two objectives. In this paper, we study the problem of segment protection. In particular, we investigate what is the optimal segment size that obtains the best tradeoff between the time taken for recovery and minimizing the bandwidth used by the backup segments. We focus on the uniform fixed-length segment protection method, where each primary path is divided into fixed-length segments, with the exception of the last segment in the path. We observe that the optimal segment size for a given network depends on several factors such as the topology and the ratio of the costs involved.
Accelerated Singular Value-Based Ultrasound Blood Flow Clutter Filtering With Randomized Singular Value Decomposition and Randomized Spatial Downsampling

Singular value decomposition (SVD)-based ultrasound blood flow clutter filters have recently demonstrated substantial improvement in clutter rejection for ultrafast plane wave microvessel imaging, and have become the commonly used clutter filtering method for many novel ultrafast imaging applications such as functional ultrasound and super-resolution imaging. At present, however, the computational burden of SVD remains as a major hurdle for practical implementation and clinical translation of this method. To address this challenge, in the study we present two blood flow clutter filtering methods based on randomized SVD (rSVD) and randomized spatial downsampling to accelerate SVD clutter filtering with minimal compromise to the clutter filter performance. rSVD accelerates SVD computation by approximating the $k$ largest singular values, while random downsampling accelerates both full SVD and rSVD by decomposing the original large data matrix into small matrices that can be processed in parallel. An in vitro blood flow phantom study with the presence of heavy tissue clutter showed significantly improved computational performance using the proposed methods with minimal deterioration to the clutter filter performance (less than 3-dB reduction in blood to clutter ratio, less than 0.2-cm2/s2 increase in flow mean squared error, less than 0.1-cm/s increase in the standard deviation of the vessel blood flow signal, and less than 0.3-cm/s increase in tissue clutter velocity for both full SVD and rSVD when the downsampling factor was less than $20\times$ ). The maximum acceleration was about threefold from randomized spatial downsampling, and approximately another threefold from rSVD. An in vivo rabbit kidney perfusion study showed that rSVD provided comparable performance to full SVD in clutter rejection in vivo (maximum difference of blood to clutter ratio was less than 0.6 dB), and random downsampling provided artifact-free perfusion imaging results when combined with both full SVD and rSVD. The blood to clutter ratio was still above 10 dB with a downsampling factor of $60\times$ . We also demonstrated real-time microvessel imaging feasibility (~40-ms processing time) by combining rSVD with random downsampling. The findings and methods presented in this paper may greatly facilitate the new area of ultrafast microvessel imaging research.
Early Invasive Strategy and In-Hospital Survival Among Diabetics With Non-ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes: A Contemporary National Insight.

BackgroundThere are limited data on the merits of an early invasive strategy in diabetics with non‐ST‐elevation acute coronary syndrome, with unclear influence of this strategy on survival. The aim...
An information theory model for dissipation in open quantum systems

This work presents a general model for open quantum systems using an information game along the lines of Jaynes' original work. It is shown how an energy based reweighting of propagators provides a novel moment generating function at each time point in the process. Derivatives of the generating function give moments of the time derivatives of observables. Aside from the mathematically helpful properties, the ansatz reproduces key physics of stochastic quantum processes. At high temperature, the average density matrix follows the Caldeira-Leggett equation. Its associated Langevin equation clearly demonstrates the emergence of dissipation and decoherence time scales, as well as an additional diffusion due to quantum confinement. A consistent interpretation of these results is that decoherence and wavefunction collapse during measurement are directly related to the degree of environmental noise, and thus occur because of subjective uncertainty of an observer.
The Wallenberg Affair and the Onset of the Cold War

The tragic fate of the courageous Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg after he was seized by Soviet forces at the end of World War II has never been adequately explained. For more than four decades afterward, Soviet officials refused to explain why Wallenberg was detained or what happened to him afterward. Even after the Soviet Union broke apart, officials in Moscow were averse to divulging much information about Wallenberg. The book Auf den Spuren Wallenbergs, edited by Stefan Karner, brings together contributors from several countries who draw on the latest releases from Moscow archives and produce up-to-date essays about what is known at this stage about Wallenberg's mysterious disappearance.
Spontaneous Breathing Trials and Conservative Sedation Practices Reduce Mechanical Ventilation Duration in Subjects With ARDS

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous breathing trials (SBTs) and daily sedation interruptions (DSIs) reduce both the duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU length of stay (LOS). The impact of these practices in patients with ARDS has not previously been reported. We examined whether implementation of SBT/DSI protocols reduce duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU LOS in a retrospective group of subjects with ARDS at a large, urban, level-1 trauma center. METHODS: All ARDS survivors from 2002 to 2016 (N = 1,053) were partitioned into 2 groups: 397 in the pre-SBT/DSI group (June 2002–December 2007) and 656 in the post-SBT/DSI group (January 2009–April 2016). Patients from 2008, during the protocol implementation period, were excluded. An additional SBT protocol database (2008–2010) was used to assess the efficacy of SBT in transitioning subjects with ARDS to unassisted breathing. Comparisons were assessed by either unpaired t tests or Mann-Whitney tests. Multiple comparisons were made using either one-way analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn9s tests. Linear regression modeling was used to determine variables independently associated with mechanical ventilation duration and ICU LOS; differences were considered statistically significant when P RESULTS: Compared to the pre-protocol group, subjects with ARDS managed with SBT/DSI protocols experienced pronounced reductions both in median (IQR) mechanical ventilation duration (14 [6–29] vs 9 [4–17] d, respectively, P CONCLUSION: Evidenced-based protocols governing weaning and sedation practices were associated with both reduced mechanical ventilation duration and ICU LOS in subjects with ARDS. However, higher respiratory system compliance in the SBT/DSI cohort also contributed to these improved outcomes.
Policy and market barriers to energy storage providing multiple services

Abstract Policy and market conditions remain the primary barriers to stacking energy storage services, reducing its cost-competitiveness with traditional technologies. This article explores two cases that show how treating energy storage as a traditional asset class providing either market-remunerated or regulated services limits its profitability, and how changing market rules creates regulatory risk that could be mitigated through stacking services.
Evolution of DDB1-binding WD40 (DWD) in the viridiplantae.

Damaged DNA Binding 1 (DDB1)—binding WD40 (DWD) proteins are highly conserved and involved in a plethora of developmental and physiological processes such as flowering time control, photomorphogenesis, and abiotic stress responses. The phylogeny of this family of proteins in plants and algae of viridiplante is a critical area to understand the emergence of this family in such important and diverse functions. We aimed to investigate the putative homologs of DWD in the viridiplante and establish a deeper DWD evolutionary grasp. The advancement in publicly available genomic data allowed us to perform an extensive genome-wide DWD retrieval. Using annotated Arabidopsis thaliana DWDs as the reference, we generated and characterized a comprehensive DWD database for the studied photoautotrophs. Further, a generic DWD classification system (Type A to K), based on (i) position of DWD motifs, (ii) number of DWD motifs, and (iii) presence/absence of other domains, was adopted. About 72–80% DWDs have one DWD motif, whereas 17–24% DWDs have two and 0.5–4.7% DWDs have three DWD motifs. Neighbor-joining phylogenetic construction of A. thaliana DWDs facilitated us to tune these substrate receptors into 15 groups. Though the DWD count increases from microalgae to higher land plants, the ratio of DWD to WD40 remained constant throughout the viridiplante. The DWD expansion appeared to be the consequence of consistent DWD genetic flow accompanied by several gene duplication events. The network, phylogenetic, and statistical analysis delineated DWD evolutionary relevance in the viridiplante.
Prospective Environmental Analyses of Emerging Technology: A Critique, a Proposed Methodology, and a Case Study on Incremental Sheet Forming

Prospective environmental assessment of emerging technology is necessary in order to inform designers of beneficial changes early in a technology's development, and policy makers looking to fund projects and nudge manufacturers toward the most sustainable application of a technology. Existing analyses often have shortcomings such as failing to consider the environmental impacts in all stages of a product's life cycle; implicitly assuming that the emerging technology will be cost‐effective wherever it is technically viable; and assuming optimistic application scenarios that discontinue long‐established trends in human behavior. In this article, we propose a new approach, complementary to the prospective and anticipatory life cycle assessment literature, addressing the above concerns and attempting to make sense of the large uncertainties inherent in such analyses by using distributions to model all the inputs. The paper focuses on emerging manufacturing technologies, such as incremental sheet forming (ISF), but the issues examined are also applicable to new end‐use products, such as autonomous vehicles. This paper makes use of approaches (such as Bass modeling and product cannibalization considerations) familiar to those in the business community who anticipate market diffusion of a new technology and the effect on existing technology sales. The proposed methodology is demonstrated by estimating the potential environmental impacts in the U.S. car industry by 2030 of an emerging double‐sided ISF process. Energy and cost models of ISF and drawing are used to estimate potential mean savings of around 100 TJprimary and 60 million U.S. dollars per year by 2030.
A deep insight into the male and female sialotranscriptome of adult Culex tarsalis mosquitoes.

Abstract Previously, a Sanger-based sialotranscriptome analysis of adult female Culex tarsalis was published based on ∼2000 ESTs. During the elapsed 7.5 years, pyrosequencing has been discontinued and Illumina sequences have increased considerable in size and decreased in price. We here report an Illumina-based sialotranscriptome that allowed finding the missing apyrase from the salivary transcriptome of C. tarsalis , to determine several full-length members of the 34–62 kDa family, when a single EST has been found previously, in addition to identifying many salivary families with lower expression levels that were not detected previously. The use of multiple libraries including salivary glands and carcasses from male and female organisms allowed for an unprecedented insight into the tissue specificity of transcripts, and in this particular case permitting identification of transcripts putatively associated with blood feeding, when exclusive of female salivary glands, or associated with sugar feeding, when transcripts are found upregulated in both male and female glands.
Using hierarchical models to estimate stock-specific and seasonal variation in ocean distribution, survivorship, and aggregate abundance of fall run Chinook salmon.

Ocean fisheries often target and catch aggregations comprising multiple populations or groups of a given species. Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) originating from rivers throughout the we...
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Infections in Cancer Patients

Cancer patients, particularly those with neutropenia, are at increased risk of developing bacterial infections (1). In the four decades since the association between neutropenia and infection was recognized, the epidemiology of bacterial infection in cancer patients has undergone several changes, with gram-positive organisms and gram-negative bacilli being the predominant pathogens at different stages. Many of these epidemiologic shifts have been influenced by changes in the nature and intensity of chemotherapeutic and immunosuppressive regimens, prophylactic and empiric antimicrobial regimens, and the increased usage of vascular access catheters and prosthetic devices (2,3).Pseudomonas aeruginosa emerged as a common cause of gram-negative infection in cancer patients during the 1960’s and, before the availability of agents such as carbenicillin, was associated with mortality rates in excess of 90% (4). Since then, the availability of potent anti-pseudomonal agents and significant improvements in supportive care have reduced the mortality to approximately 25–30% (5,6). Substantial regional and institutional variations in the frequency of infections caused by P. aeruginosa have been documented (7,8). The treatment of P. aeruginosa infections continues to foster much discussion and debate among various experts, some of whom advocate the use of synergistic, bactericidal combinations for the treatment of all pseudomonal infection in neutropenic patients, whereas others do not. These issues will be discussed in this chapter, with an emphasis on current trends in North America.
Purpose and Performance of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program is one of the most successful public programs designed to support small firm innovation. The purpose and structure of the program, however, are often misunderstood. This paper clarifies the goals and rationale for the SBIR program and reviews recent findings regarding the program's impact. The paper identifies five dimensions of the innovation capital gap and outlines a possible extension of the program to better address this finance gap.
How much influence does the paternal parent have on seed germination

It is well documented that the mother plant has much more influence than the father on seed dormancy/germination, especially of the F1 offspring, primarily by providing all material (maternally derived tissue) to the diaspore coat(s); by maternal environmental effects and provisioning of nutrient resources, mRNA transcripts, protein, the hormone abscisic acid and nitrate to the seed during its development; and by determining progeny environment via dispersal and phenology. There is some evidence that the paternal influence on seed dormancy/germination of the offspring (seeds) can be mediated through multiple paternity (including mate number and diversity), non-nuclear (cytoplasmic) and nuclear (genotypic) inheritance and paternal environmental effects. Our primary aim was to determine via a literature review the influence (or not) of the paternal parent on seed germination. Altogether, 37 of 59 studies (62.7%) indicated a positive influence of the father on seed germination, although not all of them were statistically significant. In general, however, results of studies reported in the literature do not offer strong support for the paternal parent having a major role in seed germination (or seed size) of his F1 offspring.
“Perception, Taxonomy, and Creation in Nabokov's Works”

Part of the pleasure of reading Nabokov is the confrontation with uncomfortable truths, both in a kind of raw form, but also in forms of puzzles, so that the reader is often uncertain as to what kind of questions are being posed, or which links are being made, until careful consideration of the situation at hand. Readers are quite literally seduced by luscious prose, provocative images, and fantastical juxtapositions, a kind of Barthes-like “jouissance” that begins with some level of uncertainty as to what precisely is occurring in any given scene, and follows up with titillating, provocative and sometimes shocking revelations. The puzzle-like quality of the text also leads readers into the processes described by Umberto Eco, in Lector in Fabula, whereby the careful cataloguing of detail, arranging of facts, and inquiries into meanings of particular words or events, gives the reader a task for which she is rewarded with scientific, historical or literary insights that are satisfying, both in themselves, and for the ways that they propel the narrative forward. In this respect, the science of Nabokov’s art underlies the whole project, and this new and magnificent work, Fine Lines: Vladimir Nabokov’s Scientific Art, carefully explains why this is so; in so doing, it brings readers to recognize with awe the breadth and depth of Nabokov’s genius by providing the kinds of detail that is required in order to explain and valorize his scientific accomplishments.
Beyond Coins, Stamps, and Chicken McNuggets: an Invitation to Numerical Semigroups

We give a self-contained introduction to numerical semigroups and present several open problems centered on their factorization properties.
Light element geochemistry of the Apollo 16 site

The abundance and isotopic composition of carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen, the abundance of helium and hydrogen, and the content of metallic iron are reported for lunar surface samples from the Apollo 16 landing site at Cayley-Descartes. The light elements show marked interstation variability at the site. The abundances in soils of C, N, He, and H are apparently controlled mainly by exposure to the solar wind, through implantation or stripping processes. Carbon abundances (but not observed isotopic distributions) are compatible with a model in which equilibrium is established after 10,000-100,000 yr between solar wind input and loss by proton stripping. Sulfur abundances in soils are apparently controlled by abundances in local country rocks, but the lunar S cycle is quite complex. A metallic iron component may have originated by solar wind reduction of lunar Fe(2+).
Ergothioneine, Histidine, and Two Naturally Occurring Histidine Dipeptides as Radioprotectors against γ-Irradiation Inactivation of Bacteriophages T4 and P22

Bacteriophages P22, T4+, and T4os (osmotic shock-resistant mutant with altered capsids) were diluted in 0.85% NaCl and exposed to gamma irradiation (2.79 Gy/min) at room temperature (24 degrees C). T4+ was more sensitive to inactivation than was P22, and the T4os mutant was even more sensitive than T4+. Catalase exhibited a strong protective effect and superoxide dismutase a weaker protection, indicating that H2O2 or some product derived therefrom was predominant in causing inactivation of plaque formation. Low but significant (0.1-0.3 mM) reduced glutathione (GSH) enhanced phage inactivation, but a higher (1 mM) GSH concentration protected. A similar effect was found for the polyamine, spermidine. In contrast, 0.1 mM L-ergothioneine (2-thiol-L-histidine betaine) exhibited strong protection and 1 mM afforded essentially complete protection. L-Ergothioneine is present in millimolar concentrations in some fungi and is conserved up to millimolar concentrations in critical tissues when consumed by man. L-Histidine and two histidine-containing dipeptides, carnosine and anserine, protected at a concentration of 1 mM, a level at which they are present in striated muscles of various animals.
Same-Day Discharge after Non-Perforated Laparoscopic Appendectomy Is Safe

Purpose: Several single-center studies have demonstrated same-day discharge (SDD) to be safe in adults undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) for non-perforated appendicitis (NPA). The proportio...
Organometallic Chemical Vapor Deposition of Superconducting YBaCuO Films and Post-Deposition Processing

Since the recent discovery of materials that exhibit superconductivity above 90K, there has been much interest in the preparation of thin films and coatings of these materials for numerous electronic applications. To date, most of the effort in thin film preparation has centered on physical vapor deposition techniques. However, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), although not yet widely investigated for preparation of these materials, may offer several important advantages. These advantages could include simplified deposition apparatus, excellent film uniformity and compositional control, high deposition rates, and the ability to coat complex shapes. As an example, these advantages suggest that CVD would be particularly well-suited for the large-scale preparation of wires and ribbons. Despite the attractions of CVD for the fabrication of high Tc superconducting films, very few experiments have actually been reported. This situation reflects, in large part, a paucity of suitably volatile, stable barium sources. However, recent reports have shown that metal-organic complexes, especially β-diketonate complexes, are suitable sources of barium. Thus, Ba(dpm)2 (dpm = dipivaloylmethanate) has been successfully used in the CVD of YBa2Cu3O7-δ films.l–3 Indeed, films with the onset of superconductivity at 90K and zero resistance as high as 80K have been recently prepared.4 While these deposition experiments utilizing Ba(dpm)2 have yielded encouraging preliminary results, there are alternative Ba precursors which may yield films with improved properties at lower deposition temperatures and/or with higher deposition rates and yields. A strategy for increasing the vapor pressure of a precursor is to form complexes that involve bulky fluorocarbon ligands.5,6 The introduction of fluorinated precursors also provides a source of BaF2 which has been previously shown to promote epitaxy in other types of YBa2Cu3O7-δ deposition processes and ultimately leads to sharpening of the transition to the superconducting state.7
Pathologic remodeling in human neuromas: insights from clinical specimens.

Neuroma pathology is commonly described as lacking a clear internal structure, but we observed evidence that there are consistent architectural elements. Using human neuroma samples, we sought to identify molecular features that characterize neuroma pathophysiology. Thirty specimens—12 neuromas-in-continuity (NICs), 11 stump neuromas, two brachial plexus avulsions, and five controls—were immunohistochemically analyzed with antibodies against various components of normal nerve substructures. There were no substantial histopathologic differences between stump neuromas and NICs, except that NICs had intact fascicle(s) in the specimen. These intact fascicles showed evidence of injury and fibrosis. On immunohistochemical analysis of the neuromas, laminin demonstrated a consistent double-lumen configuration. The outer lumen stained with GLUT1 antibodies, consistent with perineurium and microfascicle formation. Antibodies to NF200 revealed small clusters of small-diameter axons within the inner lumen, and the anti-S100 antibody showed a relatively regular pattern of non-myelinating Schwann cells. CD68+ cells were only seen in a limited temporal window after injury. T-cells were seen in neuroma specimens, with both a temporal evolution as well as persistence long after injury. Avulsion injury specimens had similar architecture to control nerves. Seven pediatric specimens were not qualitatively different from adult specimens. NICs demonstrated intact but abnormal fascicles that may account for the neurologically impoverished outcomes from untreated NICs. We propose that there is consistent pathophysiologic remodeling after fascicle disruption. Particular features, such as predominance of small caliber axons and persistence of numerous T-cells long after injury, suggest a potential role in chronic pain associated with neuromas.
Central Retinal Artery Occlusion with Sudden Vision Loss—“Ay, Ay, My Eye!”

Sudden monocular blindness with or without macular sparing is a central retinal artery occlusion until proven otherwise. It has some characteristic findings that appear on funduscopic exam that can be pathognomonic for the diagnosis. An afferent pupillary defect is often seen indicating a decrease in light perception in the affected eye. The workup for a patient with CRAO includes evaluation for sources of emboli, inflammatory markers, and possibly testing for a hypercoagulable state. Success of treatment depends on the duration of time before treatment is initiated. Vasodilators, anterior chamber paracentesis, and ocular massage have been used as initial treatment. Intra-arterial tPA has shown some promise as a therapeutic modality. Early Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy may temporize the patient until the obstruction resolves spontaneously or other therapies have time to work.
Distinct Roles for Rac1 in Sertoli Cell Function during Testicular Development and Spermatogenesis

Sertoli cells are supporting cells of the testicular seminiferous tubules, which provide a nurturing environment for spermatogenesis. Adult Sertoli cells are polarized so that they can simultaneously support earlier-stage spermatogenic cells (e.g., spermatogonia) basally and later-stage cells (e.g., spermatids) apically. To test the consequences of disrupting cell polarity in Sertoli cells, we perform a Sertoli-specific conditional deletion of Rac1, which encodes a Rho GTPase required for apicobasal cell polarity. Rac1 conditional knockout adults exhibit spermatogenic arrest at the round spermatid stage, with severe disruption of Sertoli cell polarity, and show increased germline and Sertoli cell apoptosis. Thus, Sertoli Rac1 function is critical for the progression of spermatogenesis but, surprisingly, is dispensable for fetal testicular development, adult maintenance of undifferentiated spermatogonia, and meiotic entry. Our data indicate that Sertoli Rac1 function is required only for certain aspects of spermatogenesis and reveal that there are distinct requirements for cell polarity during cellular differentiation.
Cansaço de si e cuidado dos outros: a precarização das relações profissionais de mulheres vinculadas aos serviços gerais de limpeza terceirizada no Tribunal de Justiça do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul

A politica economica neoliberal e um fenomeno preocupante a medida que nao demonstra apenas versatilidade de autoajuste na economia dos paises globais. Ela tambem age nas relacoes subjetivas de genero e trabalho, alterando o entendimento das classes sociais sobre o valor do seu proprio trabalho. Pensando nisso, a pesquisa realizada no TJRS buscou apresentar a rotina institucional de trabalhadoras terceirizadas no setor de limpeza, asseio e conservacao geral dentro dos quadros da Administracao Publica. A escolha de desenvolver o estudo sociologico sobre o tema da terceirizacao questiona o argumento da “modernizacao economica”, usado para sustentar uma governabilidade de reestruturacao do Estado, sob a conducao hegemonica do neoliberalismo na area trabalhista. Para isso, o problema de pesquisa busca compreender como a violencia economica neoliberal se sobressai de diferentes formas psicologicas, impondo exigencias e obrigacoes maiores sobre os corpos e a vida das mulheres, de formas nao tao perceptiveis nas relacoes sociais. Interrogou-se, portanto, que percepcoes as multiplas jornadas de trabalho das mulheres despertam e de que maneira se articulam com a distribuicao cultural de maiores atividades de desempenho e de entrega de resultados (no trabalho reprodutivo e no produtivo). Como metodologia de pesquisa, adotamos o metodo de entrevistas semi estruturadas, trazendo a narrativa de 13 trabalhadoras terceirizadas. Verificamos se existe, de fato, uma racionalidade neoliberal que, em linhas gerais, opera no sentido de precarizar, adoecer e empobrecer ainda mais, demonstrando tais efeitos como alguns de seus maiores impetos. A terceirizacao e definida como um metodo, uma das amostragens dessa racionalidade neoliberal, que surge como um potente problema politico de justica, ao estacionar questoes de genero na desigualdade. Os resultados da pesquisa empirica se mostraram condizentes com as hipoteses de autoexploracao levantadas, e embasaram o pressuposto da investigacao foi organizada em 11 categorias de analise diferentes. O recorte desse estudo busca encontrar gatilhos para repensarmos a divisao sexual do trabalho, as condicoes de precarizacao da mao de obra terceirizada, as desigualdades de genero e na crise politica do cuidado como grandes problemas para a democracia.
Accelerating the solution of the SN equations with highly anisotropic scattering using the Fokker-Planck approximation

Abstract The discrete ordinates method can model forward-peaked transport problems accurately. However, convergence of discrete ordinates solution can become arbitrarily slow upon use of standard iterative procedures like source iteration. Standard zeroth and first moment-based acceleration methods like nonlinear diffusion acceleration and diffusion synthetic acceleration are ineffective in accelerating such problems because these methods do not correct higher order Legendre-moments of angular flux. In this paper, we explore the idea of using the Fokker-Planck approximation as a preconditioner to accelerate the convergence of solution of forward-peaked transport problems. We observe that such preconditioning can successfully reduce the iteration count by up to four orders of magnitude, and solver runtime by up to three orders of magnitude when compared to diffusion synthetic acceleration.
EFloat: Entropy-coded Floating Point Format for Deep Learning.

We describe the EFloat floating-point number format with 4 to 6 additional bits of precision and a wider exponent range than the existing floating point (FP) formats of any width including FP32, BFloat16, IEEE-Half precision, DLFloat, TensorFloat, and 8-bit floats. In a large class of deep learning models we observe that FP exponent values tend to cluster around few unique values which presents entropy encoding opportunities. The EFloat format encodes frequent exponent values and signs with Huffman codes to minimize the average exponent field width. Saved bits then become available to the mantissa increasing the EFloat numeric precision on average by 4 to 6 bits compared to other FP formats of equal width. The proposed encoding concept may be beneficial to low-precision formats including 8-bit floats. Training deep learning models with low precision arithmetic is challenging. EFloat, with its increased precision may provide an opportunity for those tasks as well. We currently use the EFloat format for compressing and saving memory used in large NLP deep learning models. A potential hardware implementation for improving PCIe and memory bandwidth limitations of AI accelerators is also discussed.
Established soft contact lens wearers' awareness of and initial experiences with orthokeratology.

Objectives To understand the initial awareness of and experience with orthokeratology in a group of adult, symptomatic, soft contact lens (CL) wearers. Methods This was a prospective, 3-month, open-label study of symptomatic soft CL wearers who were between the ages of 18 and 45 years. Baseline measurements were taken and then all subjects were treated with orthokeratology. A dry eye evaluation was completed at baseline prior to orthokeratology treatment. This same dry eye evaluation was completed 1 week and 1 month after orthokeratology treatment. An investigator-designed questionnaire that aimed to understand the subject's initial awareness of and experience with orthokeratology was also administered at the baseline, 1-week, 1-month and 3-month visits (perceptions, knowledge, tolerance and ability to apply and remove orthokeratology lenses). Results Twenty-nine out of 40 subjects completed this study. Completed subjects (age = 24.28 ± 3.75 years) had significant improvements in ocular comfort over the course of the study compared to their soft CLs. Most subjects were unfamiliar with orthokeratology before the study, were able to quickly adapt to the treatment and were likely to recommend orthokeratology to friends or children for myopia management. Conclusions This study found that few subjects knew about orthokeratology before learning about it through this investigation, suggesting that patients should be offered this treatment more regularly. This conclusion is supported by the ability of the subjects to learn and adapt to orthokeratology with ease, and their likelihood to recommend it to a friend or child.
Carcinomatous monoarthritis

A case of carcinomatous monoarthritis involving the left knee due to carcinoma of the pancreas is described. Lythic lesions of the bones were noted and malignant cells in the synovial fluid have been detected. Needle biopsy of the affected knee did not reveal carcinomatous infiltration of the synovium. The value of the synovial fluid examination for malignant cells in such cases is pointed out.
Specific heat capacity, viscosity, and thermal stability of carbonate-based molten salt nanofluids

Abstract Li2CO3-K2CO3 and its nanofluids have been widely studied for thermal energy storage media in concentrated solar power due to their largely enhanced specific heat capacity values. On the other hand, Li2CO3-Na2CO3 and its nanofluids have not been explored although Li2CO3-Na2CO3 has a larger specific heat capacity than Li2CO3-K2CO3. Therefore, in this study, we synthesized Li2CO3-Na2CO3 and Li2CO3-K2CO3 pure salt eutectic mixtures and their nanofluids. These mixtures were then tested for three distinct thermophysical properties, specific heat capacity, viscosity, and thermal stability. The obtained experimental results of all four systems were evaluated for use as thermal energy storage media in concentrated solar power.