cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measurement of the Energetics of Metal Film Growth on a Semiconductor: Ag / Si ( 100 ) − ( 2 × 1 )

The first direct calorimetric measurements of the energetics of metal film growth on a semiconductor surface are presented. The heat of adsorption of Ag on Si(100)- $(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1)$ at 300 K decreases from $\ensuremath{\sim}347$ to $246\mathrm{kJ}/\mathrm{mol}$ with coverage in the first monolayer (ML) due to overlap of substrate strain from nearby Ag islands. It then rises quickly toward the bulk sublimation enthalpy ( $285\mathrm{kJ}/\mathrm{mol}$) as 3D particles grow. A wetting layer grows to 1.0 ML, but is metastable above $\ensuremath{\sim}0.55\mathrm{ML}$ and dewets when kinetics permit. This may be common when adsorbate islands induce a large strain in the substrate surface nearby.
Mass-transport aspects of pollutant removal at indoor surfaces

Abstract The mass-transport-limited rate of pollutant deposition onto indoor surfaces is examined in this paper. Transport of both particles and highly reactive gases through the boundary layer of air adjacent to a surface is analyzed for three model airflow conditions: (1) natural convection flow along room surfaces, (2) forced laminar flow parallel to room surfaces, and (3) homogeneous turbulence in the core of the room. Transport mechanisms considered include convective diffusion, thermophoresis, and gravitational sedimentation. The predicted mass-transport-limited deposition velocity, averaged over the surfaces of a room, varies from order 10−6 to 10−2 m s−1 over the range of pollutant diffusivities and particle sizes encountered. Theoretical predictions are in rough agreement with the limited experimental data that have been taken inside rooms. Results show that if buildings were designed and operated such that natural convection of forced laminar flow conditions prevailed with surface temperatures a few degrees K warmer than the room air, soiling of vertical surfaces due to deposition of soot particles in the size range 0.1–1 μm diameter could be greatly reduced.
Outcomes of Total Hip Arthroplasty in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Patients

Today, patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) live long enough to develop chronic degenerative and HIV-associated joint disease. There is a growing population of patients infected with HIV who are candidates for total hip arthroplasty (THA). A total of 31 HIV-positive, non-hemophilic patients undergoing 41 THAs at our institution between 2000 and 2012 were identified. In-hospital medical complications were reported in 5 of 41 hips, all of which resolved prior to discharge. Deep infection developed in 1 of 41 hips and revision was required in 3 of 41 hips. These results suggest that low rates of complications and revision can be achieved in the HIV-positive, non-hemophilic population. We believe that with careful patient selection, THA may improve the quality of life in the HIV-positive population.
Antecedents of participative budgeting

Abstract This paper has four purposes. First, it analyzes 47 published studies on participative budgeting. Almost all of these studies focus on the effects of participative budgeting and not on its causal antecedents. Second, to provide insight into these antecedents, we report the results of a survey which identifies reasons why managers participate in setting their budgets. Third, we report how these reasons are associated with four theoretical antecedents—environmental and task uncertainty, task interdependence and superior-subordinate information asymmetry. The results indicate that participative budgeting is most important for planning and control, specifically vertical information sharing and co-ordinating interdependence, and that specific reasons for participative budgeting are correlated with three of the antecedents. Finally, directions for future research on participative budgeting are presented.
The neural network classification of false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) vocalizations

This study reports the use of unsupervised, self-organizing neural network to categorize the repertoire of false killer whale vocalizations. Self-organizing networks are capable of detecting patterns in their input and partitioning those patterns into categories without requiring that the number or types of categories be predefined. The inputs for the neural networks were two-dimensional characterization of false killer whale vocalizations, where each vocalization was characterized by a sequence of short-time measurements of duty cycle and peak frequency. The first neural network used competitive learning, where units in a competitive layer distributed themselves to recognize frequently presented input vectors. This network resulted in classes representing typical patterns in the vocalizations. The second network was a Kohonen feature map which organized the outputs topologically, providing a graphical organization of pattern relationships. The networks performed well as measured by (1) the average correlation between the input vectors and the weight vectors for each category, and (2) the ability of the networks to classify novel vocalizations. The techniques used in this study could easily be applied to other species and facilitate the development of objective, comprehensive repertoire models.
A Comparison of HALOE V19 with SAGE II V6.00 Ozone Observations using Trajectory Mapping

We apply trajectory mapping to an eight-year intercomparison of ozone observations from HALOE (V19) and SAGE II (V6.00) for the months March, May, June, September, October, and December from the period December 1991 - October 1999. Our results, which represent the most extensive such intercomparison of these two data sets to date, suggest a root-mean -square difference between the two data sets of greater than 15% below 22 km and of 4 - 12% throughout most of the rest of the stratosphere. In addition, we find a bias with HALOE ozone low relative to SAGE II by 5 - 20% below 22 km between 40degS and 40degN. Biases throughout most of the rest of the stratosphere are nearly nonexistent. Finally, our analysis suggests almost no drift in the bias between the data sets is observed over the period of study. In the course of our study, we also determine that the employment of the Wang-Cunnold criteria is still recommended with the V6.00 SAGE II ozone data. Results with the new versions of the data sets show significant improvement over previous versions, particularly in the elimination of mid-stratospheric biases and the elimination of the previously observed drifts in the biases between the data sets in the lower stratosphere. Since HALOE V19 and V18 ozone are very similar, these changes can likely be attributed to improvements in the SAGE II retrieval.
Ice-sheet extent of the Antarctic Peninsula region during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM)—Insights from glacial geomorphology

We present marine geological and geophysical data for the Antarctic Peninsula that call for a larger ice-sheet reconstruction during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) than suggested by previous studies. Such glacial reconstructions are important for quantifying post-LGM sea-level rise and providing boundary conditions for general circulation models. Megascale glacial lineations on the continental shelf surrounding Antarctica provide documentation for grounded ice that was streaming. Swath bathymetry data (NBP02-01) reveal lineations in each of the major glacial troughs, except for Smith Trough, which features grooves and bedrock drumlins (0.5–3 km spacing, 1:20 elongation ratios) on crystalline bedrock. We place the maximum extent of ice at the seaward limit of the lineations, at or near ( Megascale glacial lineations imaged in this study and other areas surrounding Antarctica (including the Ross Sea, Pine Island Bay) have a consistent morphology, with elongation ratios of >80:1 and spacings of 200–600 m (mode of 300 m). In contrast, lineations (“bundles”; Canals et al., 2000) in the Gerlache-Boyd Trough exhibit larger spacing (1–5 km), and the upstream portions (∼7 km) are carved directly into bedrock rather than till, as suggested by previously unpublished air gun (∼120 Hz) seismic data. These features have yet to be dated; however, they are believed to have been active during the LGM. Radiocarbon dates in glaciomarine sediments (foraminifera and organic matter) from seven glacial troughs indicate that megascale glacial lineations were formed during the LGM. Other geomorphic features, such as the grounding zone wedge in the northwestern Weddell Sea, formed when the ice sheet was retreating. The initial retreat of the grounded ice from the outer shelf occurred by 18,500 cal yr B.P. The inner shelf was mostly ice free by 13,000 cal yr B.P. This is significantly earlier than numerical models, which suggest Antarctic deglaciation began at 12,000 cal yr B.P. This also suggests the peninsula area contributed to global sea-level rise associated with meltwater pulse (MWP) 1a.
Breakdown of 2mm symmetry in electron diffraction from multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Abstract Electron diffraction patterns of single-walled carbon nanotubes always have 2mm symmetry regardless if the nanotubes themselves have such symmetry. We here show that, for the case of multiwalled carbon nanotubes, the 2mm symmetry can break down when coherent interferences of the electron waves from two different shells take place such as when two shells of the same helicity but their chiral indices (u,v) have opposite evenness/oddity. Both an experimental electron diffraction pattern and analytic analysis are presented to demonstrate the conditions under which the 2mm symmetry breaks down in the electron diffraction patterns of multiwalled carbon nanotubes.
Peak-to-mean concentration ratios from ground-level sources in building wakes☆

Abstract A short series of tests was conducted to determine whether ground level point sources at the upwind stagnation point of a large building yielded peak-to-mean concentration ratios that were significantly different than those observed for ground level point sources in unobstructed flow. Time-average concentrations over test periods of 6–15 min were measured to delineate the spatial extent of the plume for both types of flow conditions. Also, 5-sec averages of concentration at a point near the centerline of the plume were measured to indicate the time history of concentration. The results indicated that there was no detectable difference between peak-to-mean ratios measured in unobstructed flow and in the lee of a building with a point source near the upwind stagnation point. Because of the strong dependence of wake diffusion on source location, no conclusions were possible concerning peak-to-mean ratios from sources located at sites other than the upwind stagnation point.
Dependence of DC characteristics of CNT MOSFETs on bandstructure models

Since their discovery in the early 1990s, the interest in carbon nanotube (CNT) electronics has exploded. One main factor that controls the device performance of CNT field-effect transistors (CNT MOSFETs) is the electronic structure of the nanotube. In this paper we use three different bandstructure models: 1) extended Huumlckel theory (EHT); 2) orthogonal pz tight-binding (OTB); and 3) parabolic effective mass model (EFM) to investigate the bandstructure effects on the device characteristics of a CNT MOSFET using semiclassical and quantum treatments of transport. We find that, after proper calibration, the OTB model is essentially identical to the EHT over the energy range of interest. We also find that an even simpler parabolic EFM facilitates CNT MOSFET simulations within practically applied bias ranges
BIBO stability of an adaptive time-frequency iterative learning control with application to microscale robotic deposition

Microscale robotic deposition (/spl mu/-RD) is an emerging solid free-form manufacturing technique for construction of parts with microscale feature sizes. Part quality in this process is directly related to the robot tracking performance. In this paper an adaptive iterative learning control algorithm using a time-varying Q-filter is presented for robust high performance tracking control of the /spl mu/-RD robot. Using a switched systems analysis, the existence of a minimum dwell time for BIBO stability is demonstrated. Experimental results show the ability of the adaptive algorithm to stably improve performance over the initial fixed filter. The development of multi-ink valves allows construction of parts with multiple materials interlaced throughout and a sample two-ink manufactured part is presented.
A Hybrid Method for Moving Interface Problems with Application to the Hele-Shaw Flow

In this paper, a hybrid approach which combines theimmersed interface methodwith thelevel set approachis presented. The fast version of the immersed interface method is used to solve the differential equations whose solutions and their derivatives may be discontinuous across the interfaces due to the discontinuity of the coefficients or/and singular sources along the interfaces. The moving interfaces then are updated using the newly developed fast level set formulation which involves computation only inside some small tubes containing the interfaces. This method combines the advantage of the two approaches and gives a second-order Eulerian discretization for interface problems. Several key steps in the implementation are addressed in detail. This new approach is then applied to Hele?Shaw flow, an unstable flow involving two fluids with very different viscosity.
Cellulose graft copolymers. I. Graft copolymerization of ethyl acrylate with γ-irradiated cellulose from methanol–water systems

Ethyl acrylate was graft-copolymerized from acetone–water systems with γ-irradiated, purified cotton cellulose. The scavenging of the free radicals in the irradiated cellulose by water, acetone, and water–acetone systems was determined by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The ESR spectra of free radicals, scavenged by water and acetone, were recorded by the use of a time-averaging computer attached to the ESR spectrometer, in which the ESR spectrum of the irradiated cellulose, which had been immersed in water and/or acetone, was electronically subtracted from the ESR spectrum of the irradiated cellulose control. For both water and acetone, the ESR spectra of the scavenged free radicals were singlets. This indicated that free radical sites formed on carbon C1 or C4 on radiation-initiated depolymerization, which would generate singlet ESR spectra, were readily accessible to these solvents. The maximum scavenging of the radicals was observed when irradiated cellulose was immersed in acetone–water solution which had a composition of 25/75 vol-%. The scavenging of the free radicals in irradiated cellulose when immersed in acetone–water solutions was less than when immersed in methanol–water solutions. Also, the extent of graft copolymerization of ethyl acrylate from acetone solutions with irradiated cellulose was less than that of ethyl acrylate from methanol solutions. These differences were probably due to differences in the diffusion rates of acetone and methanol into the cellulosie structure. The Trommsdorff-type effect in the acetone solutions would be less than in the methanol solutions, since acetone is a better solvent for poly(ethyl acrylate) than methanol.
Polymerization in lyotropic liquid crystals. I. Change of structure during polymerization

Polymerization was made at 60°C in a lyotropic liquid crystal of sodium undecenoate and water. The liquid crystalline structure prior to polymerization was identified by optical microscopy and low-angle x-ray diffraction as an array of hexagonal closely packed cylinders with the hydrophobic part of the soap in the center of the cylinders. During polymerization the structure became isotropic at 60°C. Cooling to 20°C transformed the structure to a lamellar liquid crystal–a reversible transition. The structure of the lamellar phase was interpreted as a polyethylene backbone from which deformed decanoate chains reached toward the aqueous layer. Molecular models showed the model to accept head-tail, head-head, and tail-tail configurations in cis and trans conformations with the exception of the cis tail-tail configuration.
Electron microscopy of myelin sheath in sections of spinal cord

Abstract 1. 1. The structure of the myelin sheath in the central nervous system has been studied in sections of the spinal cord of the rat. 2. 2. The sheath has been found to be composed of concentrically arranged placodes of varying electron density, denser types averaging 120 A in thickness and less dense types averaging 61 A. The width of both kinds of plaques was found to vary unsystematically between 540 A and 1150 A, and their length was found to range between 900 A and 1700 A. 3. 3. The placodes in the myelin sheath are imbricated in both the concentric and longitudinal directions so as to mask any possible interposition of complete concentric cylinders between them. 4. 4. Open spaces in the myelin sheath comparable to those described by other authors for peripheral nerve were seen only occasionally, and are here interpreted as artefacts of embedding rather than of fixation.
Final solutions: The causes of mass killing and genocide

(2000). Final solutions: The causes of mass killing and genocide. Security Studies: Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 1-59.
A MDA-based approach for real time embedded systems simulation

This document presents a simulation-based method for the development of real time embedded systems. This kind of system is really sensitive to the communication with external environment and the Quality of Service (QoS) provided by the used target. So, the method is MDA-based and proposes to separate the concerns, introducing a communication layer with the outside environment, an application layer and a connection layer between these two layers. Then, it is possible to emulate each part on the system in order to validate it.
Killing me softly: chlamydial use of proteolysis for evading host defenses

Chlamydial infections in humans cause severe health problems, including blinding trachoma and sexually transmitted diseases. Although the involved pathogenic mechanisms remain unclear, the ability to replicate and maintain long-term residence in the infected cells seems to significantly contribute to chlamydial pathogenicity. These obligate intracellular parasites maintain a delicate balance between exploiting and protecting their host: they occupy intracellular space and acquire nutrients from the infected cells, but at the same time they have to maintain the integrity of the host cells for the completion of their intracellular growth. For this purpose, chlamydiae hijack certain signaling pathways that prevent the host cells from undergoing apoptosis induced by intracellular stress and protect the infected cells from recognition and attack by host defenses. Interestingly, one of the strategies that chlamydiae use for these purposes is the induction of limited proteolysis of host proteins, which is the main focus of this article.
Leukocytes in ovarian function

It has become apparent that in the ovary, the immune system contributes to the regulation of gonadal function. Leukocytes present within the ovary may constitute potential in-situ modulators of ovarian function that act through local secretion of regulatory soluble factors. These factors include numerous cytokines that largely originate by the action of immune cells within the ovary. Actual rupture of the follicle during ovulation may be dependent on tissue remodelling that is characteristic of an acute inflammatory reaction and includes mobilization of thecal fibroblasts, increased leukocyte migration, release of various mediators and loosening of connective tissue elements in the follicle wall. Both corpus luteum formation and luteal regression also involve progressive infiltration of lymphocytes and macrophages, release of chemokines and cytokines, and communication through cell adhesion molecules. In this review, we examine the evidence for the leukocytes and their products in regulation of ovarian function and relate the potential significance of these cells and substances to some ovarian disorders.
Secretory Trafficking Signal Encoded in the Carboxyl-Terminal Region of the CGβ-Subunit

Although the LHbeta- and chorionic gonadotropin-beta- (CGbeta) subunits share a high degree of sequence identity (>85%) in the first 114 amino acids, there is considerable sequence divergence at their carboxy ends. The CGbeta-subunit terminates with a unique carboxyl-terminal extension (115-145; carboxyl-terminal peptide), which contains four O-linked oligosaccharides, whereas the LHbeta-subunit bears a hydrophobic heptapeptide (115-121) at its carboxy terminus. LH is released through the regulated pathway in the pituitary, whereas CG is secreted constitutively from the placenta. We previously demonstrated in rat somatotroph-derived GH(3) cells that the LH is associated primarily with a regulated routing, and although the majority of CG was released constitutively from the cells, there was a fraction that was segregated through the regulated pathway. Moreover, we showed that the LHbeta heptapeptide is a determinant for the regulated secretion of LH. Given that the primary evolutionary change between LHbeta and CGbeta occurred at the carboxy terminus, these data suggested that the presence of the CGbeta carboxyl-terminal peptide region is responsible for the constitutive secretion of CG. A CG114 mutant (CGDeltaT) was constructed and expressed in GH(3) cells. Steady-state labeling and pulse-chase experiments demonstrated that the CGDeltaT entered the regulated pathway resulting in over 4-fold increase in the intracellular pool. The secretagogue, forskolin, stimulated CGDeltaT release over 3-fold, which was accompanied by a parallel intracellular decrease, and only marginal stimulation of CG was seen. Immunofluorescence demonstrated a unique membrane pattern of staining for CGDeltaT compared with dispersed cytoplasmic puncta for CG. Stimulation with forskolin caused a significant reduction in the relative fluorescence of CGDeltaT cells compared with a minor reduction for CG. These data show that the CGDeltaT analog resembles LH in its intracellular trafficking, further supporting the hypothesis that determinants at the carboxyl-terminal end of the CGbeta-subunit evolved from the LHbeta-subunit primarily to overcome the slow release and intracellular storage of LH resulting in rapid secretion of CG from the placenta.
Space and time efficient execution of parallel irregular computations

Solving problems of large sizes is an important goal for parallel machines with multiple CPU and memory resources. In this paper, issues of efficient execution of overhead-sensitive parallel irregular computation under memory constraints are addressed. The irregular parallelism is modeled by task dependence graphs with mixed granularities. The trade-off in achieving both time and space efficiency is investigated. The main difficulty of designing efficient run-time system support is caused by the use of fast communication primitives available on modern parallel architectures. A run-time active memory management scheme and new scheduling techniques are proposed to improve memory utilization while retaining good time efficiency, and a theoretical analysis on correctness and performance is provided. This work is implemented in the context of RAPID system [5] which provides run-time support for parallelizing irregular code on distributed memory machines and the effectiveness of the proposed techniques is verified on sparse Cholesky and LU factorization with partial pivoting. The experimental results on Cray-T3D show that solvable problem sizes can be increased substantially under limited memory capacities and the loss of execution efficiency caused by the extra memory managing overhead is reasonable.
The Enhancing Effect of Urethane on the Severity of Infection with Pneumonia Virus of Mice (PVM).

Urethane, given parenterally or orally to mice, increased the severity of PVM infection. Not only were the lesions more extensive but mice could be infected with smaller inocula of virus and the multiplication of virus in the lung was enhanced. There was atrophy of lymphoid tissues but no suppression was noted of antibody formation. No relation could be found between PVM infection and the development of pulmonary adenomas in mice.
Applications of next-generation sequencing to phylogeography and phylogenetics

This is a time of unprecedented transition in DNA sequencing technologies. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) clearly holds promise for fast and cost-effective generation of multilocus sequence data for phylogeography and phylogenetics. However, the focus on non-model organisms, in addition to uncertainty about which sample preparation methods and analyses are appropriate for different research questions and evolutionary timescales, have contributed to a lag in the application of NGS to these fields. Here, we outline some of the major obstacles specific to the application of NGS to phylogeography and phylogenetics, including the focus on non-model organisms, the necessity of obtaining orthologous loci in a cost-effective manner, and the predominate use of gene trees in these fields. We describe the most promising methods of sample preparation that address these challenges. Methods that reduce the genome by restriction digest and manual size selection are most appropriate for studies at the intraspecific level, whereas methods that target specific genomic regions (i.e., target enrichment or sequence capture) have wider applicability from the population level to deep-level phylogenomics. Additionally, we give an overview of how to analyze NGS data to arrive at data sets applicable to the standard toolkit of phylogeography and phylogenetics, including initial data processing to alignment and genotype calling (both SNPs and loci involving many SNPs). Even though whole-genome sequencing is likely to become affordable rather soon, because phylogeography and phylogenetics rely on analysis of hundreds of individuals in many cases, methods that reduce the genome to a subset of loci should remain more cost-effective for some time to come.
Polysexualization: A New Approach to Oedipus in the Trobriands

Is the Oedipus complex universal? This essay revisits Malinowski's Trobriand Island ethnography in order to provide a new answer to this enduring question. The Trobriand Islands, of course, are the classic locus of the debate over the universality of the Oedipus complex. Malinowski (1985[1927], 1987[1929]) drew on his Trobriand data to make the first and, arguably, most convincing case for cultural variability in the sexual and aggressive attitudes of children toward their caretakers. He claimed that Trobriand boys pass through, not an Oedipus complex, in which the mother is sexually desired and the father feared and hated, but a "matrilineal complex," in which the sister is loved and the mother's brother experienced as a rival. Subsequently, Malinowski engaged in a debate with psychoanalyst ErnestJones (1925), who attacked the matrilineal complex theory and argued for the applicability of Freud's Oedipal formulation to the Trobriand case. Recently, Melford Spiro (1982) has carried on and expanded Jones's attack by reanalyzing Malinowski's ethnography in order to show that Trobriand Island men not only have an Oedipus complex, but an Oedipus complex of unusual strength. According to Spiro, the peculiar power of Tro-
Parallels between Statistical Issues in Medical and Meteorological Experimentation

Abstract The methodology of experimentation, randomization, and statistical analysis in weather modification has many parallels in clinical trials, such as the need for randomization, and the question of inclusion or exclusion of units assigned to be treated but not actually treated. There also are considerable differences, mainly in the definition of units, where the obvious choice of a single patient is in contrast with the highly problematic definition of a cloud or storm, and in the ethical aspects. This paper highlights some of these parallels and differences in the hope that looking at one’s own problems in a different context may enhance one’s understanding. It may also reconcile experimenters to their need for statistics: as the Hebrew saying goes, “Tzarat rabim, hatzi nehama” (the misfortune of many is half a consolation). DEDICATION It has been my good fortune to have worked with meteorologists who had an appreciation of what statistics could do for them and even seemed to get pleasure from unde...
Farm Financial Standards

The Farm Financial Standards were developed by a national effort to encourage standardization. Standardization includes financial statement formats, terminology, and calculations for measuring financial position and format. Comparative analysis and education efforts are enhanced greatly by standardization. The Standardization Performance Analysis (SPA) system was developed on the basis of the performance standards for beef cattle and sheep enterprises. This article summarizes the Farm Financial Standards and illustrates the calculations with a worksheet.
Fatal recurrent toxoplasmosis in a patient initially infected via a leukocyte transfusion.

Fatal recurrent toxoplasmosis in a leukemic patient apparently infected via a leukocyte transfusion from an asymptomatic carrier of the parasite is reported. Although the initial illness resolved with supportive treatment and antimicrobial therapy, the recurrent phase was fulminating, resulting in colonization of many tissues. Acute necrotizing pancreatitis due to Toxoplasma gondii is reported. The biphasic nature of the infection was established on clinical as well as histologic grounds.
Generation of tunable, pulsed vortex beams using an image rotating optical parametric oscillator

Figure 1 shows the image-rotating optical cavity of our singly resonant, nanosecond optical parametric oscillator [1]. The proper choice of mirror orientations gives a 90° rotation of the circulating signal beam on each round trip of the cavity. This rotation separates the resonant frequencies of beams with differing vortex charge, making it possible to select the charge of the signal beam by controlling its frequency through injection seeding with a cw laser.
Optimum testicular aspiration technique for deoxyribonucleic acid flow cytometric analysis of spermatogenesis in primates (Papio anubis)

Deoxyribonucleic acid flow cytometry on testicular tissue is an established method to evaluate spermatogenesis. Needle aspiration is less invasive and permits sequential sampling as compared with open testis biopsy. Using seven primates, we examined the needle aspiration technique. There was no significant difference among locations aspirated; the Westcott needle (Bard Urological, Covington, GA) provided the most rapid analysis, and both the Biopty gun (Bard Urological) and Westcott needle were easy to use. Baseline means ± SD for ploidy distributions were IN: 65.73% ± 7.1; 2N: 18.95% ± 5.5; 4N: 11.4% ± 2. Experimental data generated from primate models using testis aspiration and flow cytometry may elucidate human infertile conditions.
Prevention of Post-Prostatectomy Vesical Neck Contracture by Prophylactic Vesical Neck Incision

Most vesical neck contractures occur after resection of adenomas weighing less than 20 gm. This complication is believed to be secondary to excessive resection or fulguration of an undilated bladder neck. Prophylactic bladder neck incision was performed in conjunction with transurethral resection of the prostate on 114 patients with prostatic adenomas weighing less than 20 gm. Vesical neck contracture occurred in 1 patient (0.87 per cent), compared to 12 contractures in 161 patients who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate alone (7.5 per cent). Increasing bladder neck diameter by incision appears to be protective against formation of vesical neck contractures in patients with small obstructing prostatic adenomas.
Moving Target Defense for Web Applications using Bayesian Stackelberg Games: (Extended Abstract)

Vulnerabilities in web applications allow hackers to access and/or modify restricted data. Here the hackers have the opportunity to perform reconnaissance so as to gain knowledge about the web application layout before launching an attack, whereas the defender (administrator of the web application) must secure the application even with its potential vulnerabilities. In order to mask such vulnerabilities which are primarily associated with different individual configurations, Moving Target Defense systems were proposed wherein the defender switches between various configurations thereby making it difficult to attack with success, while maintaining a seamless experience for the genuine users. In this paper, we present a way to find effective switching strategies by modeling this ecosystem as a Bayesian Stackelberg game with the administrator as the leader and the hackers as the followers, which as we show succinctly captures various aspects of the Moving Target Defense systems. Furthermore, we propose ways to find the most critical vulnerabilities and the most sensitive attacker types, which are key issues in such scenarios.
Current Status of the Ceph Based Storage Systems at the RACF

Ceph based storage solutions are becoming increasingly popular within the HEP/NP community over the last few years. With the current status of Ceph project, both object storage and block storage (RBD) layers are production ready on a large scale, and the Ceph file system storage layer (CephFS) is rapidly getting to that state as well.This contribution contains a thorough review of various functionality, performance and stability tests performed with all three (object storage, block storage and file system) levels of Ceph by using the RACF computing resources in 2012-2014 on various hardware platforms and with different networking solutions (10/40 GbE and IPoIB/4X FDR Infiniband based). We also report the status of commissioning a large scale (1 PB of usable capacity, 4k HDDs behind the RAID arrays by design) Ceph based object storage system provided with Amazon S3 complaint RadosGW interfaces deployed in RACF, as well as performance results obtained while testing the RBD and CephFS storage layers of our Ceph clusters.
Two-stage simulation optimization for optimal development of offshore wind farm under wind uncertainty

As one of the most promising renewable energy sources, wind energy reduces consumption of fossil fuels and becomes economically viable with significant environmental benefits. Offshore wind resources are abundant and more stable for sustainable clean energy production. In this paper, we propose stochastic models and optimization methods for optimal development of offshore wind farms. Wind uncertainty is studied by using probabilistic models with seasonal/time scenarios. A two-stage optimization framework is proposed to first determine the optimal number of turbines and then refine the turbine placement for most-productive layout under wind uncertainty. The method is tested using an offshore farm at the south New Jersey coast.
Oxytocin Reduces Ethanol Self-Administration in Mice.

Background Excessive ethanol consumption remains an important health concern and effective treatments are lacking. The central oxytocin system has emerged as a potentially important therapeutic target for alcohol and drug addiction. These studies tested the hypothesis that oxytocin reduces ethanol consumption. Methods Male C57BL/6J mice were given access to ethanol (20% v/v) using a model of binge-like drinking (“drinking-in-the-dark”) that also included the use of lickometer circuits to evaluate the temporal pattern of intake as well as 2-bottle choice drinking in the home cage. In addition, ethanol (12% v/v) and sucrose (5% w/v) self-administration on fixed- and progressive- ratio schedules were also evaluated. A wide range of systemically administered oxytocin doses were tested (0 to 10 mg/kg) in these models. Results Oxytocin (0, 0.3, 1, 3 or 10mg/kg) dose-dependently reduced ethanol consumption (maximal 45% reducton) in the binge drinking model, with lower effective doses having minimal effects on general locomotor activity. Oxytocin's effect was blocked by pretreatment with an oxytocin receptor antagonist and the pattern of contacts (licks) at the ethanol bottle suggested a reduction in motivation to drink ethanol. Oxytocin decreased 2-bottle choice drinking without altering general fluid intake. Oxytocin also reduced operant responding for ethanol and sucrose in a dose-related manner. However, oxytocin decreased responding and motivation (breakpoint values) for ethanol at doses that did not alter responding for sucrose. Discussion These results indicate that oxytocin reduces ethanol consumption in different models of self-administration. The effects are not likely due to a general sedative effect of the neuropeptide. Further, oxytocin reduces motivation for ethanol at doses that do not alter responding for a natural reward (sucrose). While some evidence supports a role for oxytocin receptors in mediating these effects, additional studies are needed to further elucidate underlying mechanisms. Neverthess, these results support the therapeutic potential of oxytocin as a treatment for alcohol use disorder. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Hole distortion and drift in extruded microstructured optical fiber glass preforms: Part I – Sensitivity analysis

Abstract Computational simulation of the extrusion of a glass preform for drawing microstructured optical fibers was used to study processing induced distortion and drift of the holes within the preform. Such distortion is the primary weakness of the extrusion approach. The validated model from a previous study for a preform with 36 holes is used herein for a sensitivity analysis. Symmetry of the cross section allows analysis of a thirty-degree subdomain, which contains five holes. Scalar variables are introduced to quantify preform deformation, hole distortion and hole drift. The manuscript describes and compares data sets and normalizing procedures for these variables, in order to choose a suitable set that facilitates the interpretation of the deformation, as well as the comparison between the outputs of different die designs. For two related die inserts, the sensitivity of these variables with respect to the level of friction ranging from no friction to no-slip, was studied in detail for the five holes. Such a study is required to identify ways to optimize the die insert geometry that creates the lattice of holes in the preform. Optimization is addressed in Part II, which is a companion study.
Early detection of pancreatic cancers in liquid biopsies by ultrasensitive fluorescence nanobiosensors.

Abstract Numerous proteases, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), cathepsins (CTS), and urokinase plasminogen activator (UpA), are dysfunctional (that is, over- or under-expressed) in solid tumors, when compared to healthy human subjects. This offers the opportunity to detect early tumors by liquid biopsies. This approach is of particular advantage for the early detection of pancreatic cancer, which is a “silent killer”. We have developed fluorescence nanobiosensors for ultrasensitive (sub-femtomolar) arginase and protease detection, consisting of water-dispersible Fe/Fe3O4 core/shell nanoparticles and two tethered fluorescent dyes: TCPP (Tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin) and cyanine 5.5. Upon posttranslational modification or enzymatic cleavage, the fluorescence of TCPP increases, which enables the detection of proteases at sub-femtomolar activities utilizing conventional plate readers. We have identified an enzymatic signature for the detection of pancreatic adenocarcinomas in serum, consisting of arginase, matrix metalloproteinase-1, -3, and - 9, cathepsin-B and -E, urokinase plasminogen activator, and neutrophil elastase, which is a potential game-changer.
Pseudo porphyria or porphyria cutanea tarda

Manuscripts about pseudoporphyria (PP) and porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) are commented here, emphasizing some gastroenterological relationships and possible diagnostic challenges or misdiagnosis, in special for daily practice of primary health care workers. Batrani et al. described PP associated with the use of imatinib and manifested by bullae, erosions, scarring and milia on the dorsum of hands and feet, in absence of photosensitivity (1). Biopsy sample showed subepidermal blister, dermal festooning of papillae and thickened vessels; and the level of urinary porphyrin was within the normal range (1). Imatinib has been also associated with PCT; however, in this patient the diagnosis was consistent with PP (1). Pelaez- Castro et al. reported the first Peruvian case of PP in a hemodialytic woman with facial hyperpigmentation, bilateral bullae on the fingers, and some crusts on the dorsum of hands (2). Biopsy study revealed sub epidermal blisters, with dermal festooning and mild lymphocytic infiltrate; however, the normal profiles of porphyrins allowed confirm the diagnosis of PP (2). This condition is related to renal failure and hemodialysis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, furosemide, retinoids, sulphonamides, tetracyclines, dapsone, and nalidixic acid (1,2). Hypertrichosis, hyperpigmentation, calcifications and sclerodermoid lesions are uncommon in PP; however, clinical, histopathological and immunofluorescence features can mimic PCT (1). Therefore, normal urinary and plasmatic porphyrins are mandatory for diagnosis of PP (1,2).
Bupropion Switch for a Depressed Patient With Venlafaxine-Associated Night Sweats

To the EditorsCASE REPORTMr S, a 64-year-old man, presented with major depression with significant anxiety. After brief trials of citalopram (40 mg) and sertraline (100 mg), both discontinued owing to excessive sedation independent of dosing time, he was treated effectively with venlafaxine extended
Reversibly Cross-linkable Bottlebrush Polymers as Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives.

Dynamically cross-linkable bottlebrush polymer adhesives were synthesized by the grafting-from strategy through a combination of ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and photoiniferter polymerization. A norbornene-containing trithiocarbonate was first polymerized by ROMP to form the bottlebrush polymer backbone; this was followed by blue-light-mediated photoiniferter polymerization of butyl acrylate initiated by the poly(trithiocarbonate) to form the bottlebrush polymer. This strategy afforded well-defined bottlebrush polymers with molar masses in excess of 11 000 kg/mol. For un-cross-linked bottlebrush polymers, 180° peel tests revealed a cohesive failure mode and showed similar peel strengths (∼30 g/mm) regardless of the backbone polymer degree of polymerization (DP). The bottlebrush polymers were then treated with butylamine to remove the trithiocarbonate, liberating thiols on each side-chain terminus. In the presence of oxygen, these thiols readily cross-linked via disulfide bond formation. T...
Micromagnetics of Galfenol

We study the micromagnetics of soft cubic ferromagnets with large magnetostriction, with the goal of understanding the microstructure and behavior of recently reported single-crystal Galfenol samples [Chopra and Wuttig in Nature 521(7552):340–343, 2015]. First, taking the no-exchange formulation of the micromagnetics energy [De Simone and James in J Mech Phys Solids 50(2):283–320, 2002], we construct minimizing sequences that yield local average magnetization and strain curves matching the experimental findings of Chopra and Wuttig (2015). Then, reintroducing a sharp-interface version of the exchange energy [Choksi and Kohn in Commun Pure Appl Math 51(3):259–289, 1998], we construct normal and zig-zag Landau states; within the parameter regime of Galfenol, we show that the latter achieves lower-energy scaling via equipartition of energy between the $$90^\circ $$ wall energy, $$180^\circ $$ wall energy and the anisotropy energy. This forms the first step in adapting the program of Kohn and Muller [Philos Mag A 66(5):697–715, 1992] to explain why certain magnetic microstructures are observed over others.
Meta-analysis of 10 herbs of Iowa for traditional, homeopathic and modern medicinal uses

Background Taking herbal supplements has become an easy way for the community in Iowa USA to benefit from the medicinal qualities of herbs however cultivation of medicinal herbs in Iowa permits the ability to make preparations with herbs to treat health ailments Direct cultivation of herbs allows Iowa residents to reap the nbsp advantages of medicinal properties in plants using traditional methods Numerous studies conducted have combined herbal medicine with modern medicine exhibiting promising results for treating specific health related issues Scientific evidence is discussed to show how modern medicine practices have researched the medicinal properties of these herbs The review provides educational knowledge about the general properties phytochemistry and medicinal properties of selected culinary herbs nbsp The meta analysis of medicinal herbs in Iowa explains the history and origin of each plant describing physical characteristics and growing conditions in Iowa In addition to that the analysis discusses economic parts of the plant used for traditional modern medicine and homeopathic remedies Many plants that are weeds growing in Iowa have medicinal properties that could be used for alleviating ailments and improving the health of the community Cultivation of medicinal herbs in Iowa reduces the amount of herbal supplements the community uses to treat and alleviate health imbalances Ethical growing practices can take place in Iowa reducing monetary support for companies that use irresponsible growing practices to produce mass scale supplements The advantage of fertile soil and regular growing seasons in Iowa enable personal cultivation of medicinal herbs Iowa offers a diverse climate offering numerous cultivation methods to grow these herbs for personal use and medicinal purposes
"Hi! My Name Is Arnold Snarb!": Homosexuality in The Crying of Lot 49

The Crying of Lot 49 (1966) has evoked a wealth of critical attention, but this attention has overlooked its frequent references to male homosexuality. J. Kerry Grant, for example, in his Companion to The Crying of Lot 49, ignores all but a couple of Pynchon's most obvious gay talk or straight-slang references to homosexuality. On the one hand, Pynchon treats the hidden gay-world as an undesirable, almost unthinkable, underside of San Francisco, carrying the mark of the pariah; on the other hand, he makes it a necessary component of a distorted and distorting heterosexuality. Through her encounter with this homosexual underworld and its symbolic value system, Oedipa learns what it means to be a heterosexual woman capable of standing on her own in a world dominated by (supposedly) straight men.