Routing with locality in partitioned-bus meshes

We show that adding partitioned-buses (as opposed to long buses that span an entire row or column) to ordinary meshes can reduce the routing time by approximately one-third for permutation routing with locality. A matching time lower bound is also proved. The result can be generalized to multi-packet routing.published_or_final_versio

On the evolution of probability-weighting function and its impact on gambling

It is well known that individuals treat losses and gains differently and there exists non-linearity in probability. The asymmetry between gains and losses is highlighted by the reflection effect. The non-linearity in probability is described by the curvature of the probability-weighting function. This paper studies the evolution of the probability-weighting function. It is assumed that the probability weighting for an individual follows a mean-reverting stochastic process. The Monte Carlo simulation technique is employed to study the evolution of the weighting function. The evolution of the probability- weighting function implies that an individual does not treat gains or losses consistently over time, this may be due to the change of the individual’s psychological status

Efficient computations on meshes with express links

At head of title: Computer science publication.Cover title.Includes bibliographical references (p. 10-12).published_or_final_versio

Adoption of robotic assisted partial nephrectomies: a population-based analysis of U.S. surgeons from 2004-2013

The advent of minimally invasive and robotic techniques has resulted in the rapid adoption of this novel technology, with the field of urology at the forefront. Since the first Robotic‐Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy (RALP) was performed in 2000 using  the da Vinci Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA), surgeons have rapidly incorporated robotic technology for the use of radical prostatectomies for prostatic carcinoma. Prior to 2005, only a minority of surgeons‐‐fewer than 2.5%‐‐performing radical  prostatectomies utilized robotic assistance.  However, robotic assistance has become the predominant approach for radical prostatectomies, increasing from 22% to 85% between the years 2002 to 2013, representing a nearly five‐fold increase in utilization

A viral protease relocalizes in the presence of the vector to promote vector performance

Vector-borne pathogens influence host characteristics relevant to host–vector contact, increasing pathogen transmission and survival. Previously, we demonstrated that infection with Turnip mosaic virus, a member of one of the largest families of plant-infecting viruses, increases vector attraction and reproduction on infected hosts. These changes were due to a single viral protein, NIa-Pro. Here we show that NIa-Pro responds to the presence of the aphid vector during infection by relocalizing to the vacuole. Remarkably, vacuolar localization is required for NIa-Pro’s ability to enhance aphid reproduction on host plants, vacuole localization disappears when aphids are removed, and this phenomenon occurs for another potyvirus, Potato virus Y, suggesting a conserved role for the protein in vector–host interactions. Taken together, these results suggest that potyviruses dynamically respond to the presence of their vectors, promoting insect performance and transmission only when needed

Evaluation of a Novel Glycoprotein on Commercial Contact Lenses

PURPOSE The purpose of this thesis was to evaluate the interaction of a novel glycoprotein, known as proteoglycan 4 (PRG4), with various commercial contact lenses. METHODS PRG4 was investigated for its effects on commercial contact lenses. Both bovine PRG4 and recombinant human PRG4 (rhPRG4) were examined on six silicone hydrogels (balafilcon A, senofilcon A, lotrafilcon B, comfilcon A, delefilcon A, narafilcon A) and one conventional hydrogel (etafilcon A). Lens parameters, such as material wettability, bacterial adhesion and viability, and location of sorbed PRG4, were investigated in the following: • The effect of PRG4 on the wettability of both commercially available silicone and conventional hydrogel lens materials was investigated in vitro. Additionally, the substantivity of PRG4 onto the lens surface was also examined (Chapter 3) • Using a novel labeling technique, rhPRG4 was fluorescently tagged and visualized, using confocal microscopy, to elucidate the sorption profile within various commercial lens materials (Chapter 4) • The antibacterial effect of bovine PRG4- and rhPRG4-treated lenses was investigated. Staphylococcus aureus was radiolabeled with 3H-uridine and the bacterial suspension was exposed to various lenses. The total bacterial adhesion was measured by using a Beta counter to detect the 3H isotope, and viability was determined using an agar plate counting method for each lens type (Chapter 5) RESULTS The lens material largely influences how PRG4 interacts with the contact lens. The presence of a surface treatment and/or ionically charged monomers has a significant impact on the wettability and sorption of PRG4. Generally, the incorporation of PRG4 onto relatively hydrophobic surfaces appears to enhance the surface wettability, though PRG4 exhibited greater substantivity on relatively hydrophilic surfaces. PRG4 did not demonstrate significant antibacterial properties against S. aureus. However, PRG4 did not significantly increase bacterial adhesion, even though proteins on lens surfaces are known to attract more bacteria. In addition, it is possible that PRG4 is denatured to a certain extent within the lens, which may ultimately serve as a source of nutrients for the bacteria to thrive on. Future work is required to investigate this supposition. CONCLUSIONS The results from this thesis have demonstrated that PRG4 can have a significant positive impact on lens material wettability and perhaps other metrics as well, which can possibly translate to enhanced lens wear comfort and lower drop-out rates. Since the lens composition is the major contributing factor in how PRG4 interacts with the material, lens manufacturers can potentially use this information to develop lenses to better incorporate PRG4 for various wear modalities. The unique combination of contact lens and PRG4 is a fairly novel area of research and has the potential for future additional studies

Analysis of Odor‐Causing VOCs and Semi‐VOCs Associated with Particulate Matter in Swine Barns Using SPME‐GC‐MS‐Olfactometry

Swine operations can affect air quality by emissions of odor, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other gases, and particulate matter (PM). Particulate matter has been proposed to be an important pathway for carrying odor. However, little is known about the odor‐VOCs‐PM interactions. In this research, continuous PM sampling was conducted simultaneously with three collocated TEOM analyzers inside a 1000‐head swine finish barn located in central Iowa. Each TEOM (tapered element oscillating microbalance) was fitted with total suspended particulate (TSP), PM‐10, PM‐2.5 and PM‐1 preseparators. Used filters were stored in 40 mL vials and transported to the laboratory. VOCs adsorbed∕absorbed to dust were allowed to equilibrate with vial headspace. Solid‐phase microextraction (SPME) Carboxen∕polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS) 85 μm fibers were used to extract VOCs. Simultaneous chemical and olfactometry analyses of VOCs and odor associated with swine PM were completed using a gas chromatography‐mass‐olfactometry (GC‐MS‐O) system. Fifty VOCs categorized into nine chemical function groups were identified and confirmed with standards. Five of them are classified as hazardous air pollutants. VOCs were characterized with a wide range of molecular weight, boiling points, vapor pressures, water solubilities, odor detection thresholds, and atmospheric reactivities. All characteristic swine VOCs and odorants were present in PM and their abundance was proportional to PM size. However, the majority of VOCs and characteristic swine odorants were preferentially bound to smaller‐size PM. The findings indicate that a significant fraction of swine odor can be carried by PM. Research of the effects of PM control on swine odor mitigation is warranted

Characterization of Volatile Organic Compounds and Odorants Associated with Swine Barn Particulate Matter Using Solid-Phase Microextraction and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry-Olfactometry

dor, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other gases, and particulate matter (PM). Particulate matter has been proposed to be an important pathway for carrying odor. In this research, continuous PM sampling was conducted simultaneously with three collocated TEOM (tapered element oscicllating microbalance) analyzers inside a 1000- head swine finish barn located in central Iowa. Each TEOM was fitted with total suspended particulate (TSP), PM-10, PM-2.5 and PM-1 preseparators. Used filters were stored in 40 mL vials and transported to the laboratory. Carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) 85 μm solid phase microextraction (SPME) fibers were used to extract VOCs. Simultaneous chemical and olfactometry analyses of VOCs and odor associated with swine PM were completed using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer-olfactometry (GCMS-O) system. Fifty VOCs categorized into nine chemical function groups were identified and confirmed with standards. Five of them are classified as hazardous air pollutants. VOCs were characterized with a wide range of molecular weight, boiling points, vapor pressures, water solubilities, odor detection thresholds, and atmospheric reactivities. All characteristic swine VOCs and odorants were present in PM and their abundance was proportional to PM size. However, the majority of VOCs and characteristic swine odorants were preferentially bound to smaller-size PM. The findings indicate that a significant fraction of swine odor can be carried by PM