cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The NPD Nuclear Power Station Electrical System and the Statistical Approach to Its Design

This paper describes the electrical system designed for the Nuclear Power Demonstration (NPD) Generating Station and the statistical approach used to make decisions as the design progressed. NPD is a 22-mw (megawatt) nulcear power station designed by Canadian General Electric Company in co-operation with Atomic Energy of Canada, Ltd., and The Hydro Electric Power Commission of Ontario (HEPC). The reactor is heavy-water-moderated and heavy-water-cooled and uses natural uranium as the fuel. The plant is located on the Ottawa River about 1 mile downstream from the Ontario Hydro's Des Joachims generating station. An electrical system was designed for NPD which is quite similar to that which would be found in a conventional generating station of the same rating. However, because of the critical nature of some of the processes during all phases of operation including shutdown, a great deal of emphasis was placed on reliability. Throughout the design, circuit configuration and equipment selection stressed reliability as well as cost.
Cytomegalovirus retinitis after cardiac transplantation

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of cytomegalovirus retinitis after cardiac transplantation. Method: Records of patients who had cardiac transplantation at Jackson Memorial Hospital between November 1986 and November 1994 were reviewed. Patients who had not previously had ophthalmic evaluation after transplantation were invited for retinal examination. Results: Eighty-two patients had cardiac transplantation during the study period. One to 68 months (mean, 24.5 months) after transplantation, ophthalmoscopic examination was performed in 41 patients. Six (14.6%) of 41 patients had healed scars consistent with cytomegalovirus retinitis or active cytomegalovirus retinitis. Conclusion: Cytomegalovirus retinitis lesions were found in six (14.6%) of 41 patients. If remaining patients were unaffected and no patient developed cytomegalovirus retinitis after ophthalmoscopic examination, the prevalence would be 7.3% (6/82). We recommend ophthalmic screening of all patients 3 to 4 months after cardiac transplantation with repeat examinations yearly or as ocular symptoms occur.
Post-stenotic dilation: Evaluation of ascending aortic dilation with 4D flow MR imaging

Post-stenotic aortic dilation is a long-observed phenomenon that has been linked to elevatedmechanical stress on thewall of the ascending aorta caused by flow disturbance downstream of a stenotic lesion [1]. Uniquely detailed visualization of flow in the ascending aorta is possible with MR blood flow imaging using three-dimensional (3D), cine phase-contrast sequences, or 4D flow. The technique can also be used to estimate thewall shear stress experienced by vascular endothelium [2]. We have used 4D flow to characterize abnormal systolic flow and shear stress in a number of patients with post-stenotic aortic dilation. Normal systolic flow in the ascending aorta is laminar, with fastest flow in the vessel center, and shear stress evenly distributed around the aortic circumference (Fig. 1A). In patients with post-stenotic dilation, however, systolic flow is eccentric, displaced from the centerline toward the vessel wall, and follows a helical path through the ascending aorta. Consequently, wall shear stress is asymmetrically elevated. This altered fluid-mechanical environment in the ascending aorta is seen with both stenotic tricuspid and bicuspid aortic valves (TAV and BAV; Fig. 1B, C). Elevated wall shear stress, particularly positive shear stress
The Role of BRAF Mutation and p53 Inactivation during Transformation of a Subpopulation of Primary Human Melanocytes

Melanocytic nevi frequently harbor oncogenic BRAF mutations, but only a minority progress to melanoma. In human melanocytes, persistent BRAFV600E expression triggers oncogene-induced senescence, which implies that bypass of oncogene-induced senescence is necessary for malignant transformation of melanocytes. We show that a subpopulation of primary human melanocytes with persistent expression of BRAFV600E do not enter oncogene-induced senescence, but instead survive despite heightened MAPK activity. Disruption of the p53 pathway using short-hairpin RNA initiated rapid growth of these V600E+ melanocytes in vitro. The resultant V600E+/p53sh melanocytes grew anchorage-independently in soft agar, formed pigmented lesions reminiscent of in situ melanoma in artificial skin reconstructs, and were weakly tumorigenic in vivo. Array comparative genomic hybridization analysis demonstrated that the transformed melanocytes acquired a substantial deletion in chromosome 13, which encodes the Rb1 tumor suppressor gene. Gene expression profiling study of nevi and melanomas showed that p53 target genes were differentially expressed in melanomas compared with nevi, suggesting a dysfunctional p53 pathway in melanoma in vivo. In summary, these data demonstrate that a subpopulation of melanocytes possesses the ability to survive BRAFV600E-induced senescence, and suggest that p53 inactivation may promote malignant transformation of these cells.
Geography, Social Science, And The National Science Foundation1

(1957). Geography, Social Science, And The National Science Foundation. The Professional Geographer: Vol. 9, No. 6, pp. 7-9.
Quantitative proteomics in plants: choices in abundance.

The field of proteomics is evolving from cataloguing proteins under static conditions to comparative analyses. Defining proteins that change in abundance, form, location, or activity may indicate which proteins are involved in developmental changes or responses to alterations in environmental conditions. Such studies are facilitated by an increasing number of complementary technical options for performing quantitative proteomic comparisons. As with any developing field, however, rapid expansion in new techniques introduces concerns about choosing the appropriate approach. The goals of this perspective essay, therefore, are both to introduce the various options that are available (or nearly so) for quantitative proteomics and to discuss considerations related to applying these methods in the laboratory.
A unified set of single-step asymptotic annihilation algorithms for structural dynamics

When solving the equations of structural dynamics using direct time integration meth6ds, algorithmic damping is useful in controlling spurious high-frequency oscillations. Ideally, an algorithm should possess asymptotic annihilation of the highfrequency response, i.e., spurious oscillations in the high frequencies are eliminated after one time step. In this paper, a new class of asymptotic annihilation algorithms for structural dynamics is presented that possesses little numerical dissipation in the low-frequency regime. The algorithms are based upon using finite elements in time. The displacement and velocity fields are interpolated independently using time-discontinuous functions. The equations of motion, displacement-velocity compatibility and the time continuity of displacement and velocity are satisfied weakly. Asymptotic annihilation is achieved by choosing the displacement and velocity fields to be of equal order. Algorithms of any desired order of temporal accuracy can be obtained by appropriate choice of the finite element interpolations in time. An analysis of the proposed class of algorithms is given proving the asymptotic annihilation property and the spectral equivalence of the algorithms to the upper diagonal of the Pad6 approximation table. Results from finite difference analyses are presented showing the spectral behavior of the algorithms as well as their dissipation and dispersion properties in the low frequency regime.
Structural and performance fundamentals of sinewave-controlled brushless servo drives

The fundamental design concepts, functional analysis, structural description and performance characteristics are discussed of three-phase, high-performance brushless servo drives using a sinusoidal control scheme. A comprehensive summary is provided of the fundamental data and principles needed for the successful design and application of sinewave-controlled brushless servo drives. >
Utility of the Baddeley and Hitch Model of Short-Term Working Memory To Investigate Spoken Language Understanding: A Tutorial.

Spoken speech understanding can be challenging, particularly in the presence of competing information such as background noise. Researchers have shown that dynamic observable phonetic facial cues i...
Effects of Low-Carbohydrate Diets Versus Low-Fat Diets on Metabolic Risk Factors: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials

The effects of low-carbohydrate diets (≤45% of energy from carbohydrates) versus low-fat diets (≤30% of energy from fat) on metabolic risk factors were compared in a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Twenty-three trials from multiple countries with a total of 2,788 participants met the predetermined eligibility criteria (from January 1, 1966 to June 20, 2011) and were included in the analyses. Data abstraction was conducted in duplicate by independent investigators. Both low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets lowered weight and improved metabolic risk factors. Compared with participants on low-fat diets, persons on low-carbohydrate diets experienced a slightly but statistically significantly lower reduction in total cholesterol (2.7 mg/dL; 95% confidence interval: 0.8, 4.6), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (3.7 mg/dL; 95% confidence interval: 1.0, 6.4), but a greater increase in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (3.3 mg/dL; 95% confidence interval: 1.9, 4.7) and a greater decrease in triglycerides (−14.0 mg/dL; 95% confidence interval: −19.4, −8.7). Reductions in body weight, waist circumference and other metabolic risk factors were not significantly different between the 2 diets. These findings suggest that low-carbohydrate diets are at least as effective as low-fat diets at reducing weight and improving metabolic risk factors. Low-carbohydrate diets could be recommended to obese persons with abnormal metabolic risk factors for the purpose of weight loss. Studies demonstrating long-term effects of low-carbohydrate diets on cardiovascular events were warranted.
Three-dimensional structural analysis of MgO-supported osmium clusters by electron microscopy with single-atom sensitivity.

Size, shape, nuclearity: Aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy was used to determine the 3D structures of MgO-supported Os3, Os4, Os5, and Os10 clusters, which have structures nearly matching those of osmium carbonyl compounds with known crystal structures. The samples are among the best-defined supported catalysts.
Complete dispersion compensation for 400-fs pulse transmission over 10-km fiber link using dispersion compensating fiber and spectral phase equalizer

We have demonstrated essentially complete dispersion compensation for 400-fs pulses over a 10-km fiber link using dispersion compensating fiber and a programmable femtosecond pulse shaper functioning as a spectral phase equalizer. The pulse shaper impresses adjustable quadratic and cubic phases onto the spectrum and removes all the residual dispersion and dispersion slope in the dispersion compensated fiber link. Our work shows that the pulse shaper technique provides a powerful and convenient tool for programmable fiber dispersion compensation over broad optical bandwidth. This allows distortion-free femtosecond pulse transmission over a fiber link in excess of 10 km without requiring the exact trimming of the dispersion-compensating fiber.
In Defense of Excessive Government

I don't have much practice defending government, and I certainly would not have written this article if it were going to be subjected to a rigorous review process. But because it will not be subjected to any review process, rigorous or otherwise, I have the opportunity to try something different and irritate almost everyone, and that is not an opportunity to be passed up. In mounting a defense of excessive government, I risk annoying two groups of people with very different political perspectives. The first group consists of those who think the term "excessive government" is an oxymoron, or if they do recognize the possibility of excessive government, they certainly do not think it describes any democratic government. The second group consists of those with whom I have long identified, classic liberals working in the field of public choice who advocate if not a minimal government, certainly one that is limited far more than in any existing democracy. In writing this article, I kept anticipating the objections of the latter group and trying to guard myself against them. In this effort I have attempted to use arguments drawn from, and consistent with, the public choice perspective to make my case. Before diving into the details of my defense of excessive government, I will outline briefly the main points. I recognize that we rely on government to do some pretty heavy lifting in the form of collective action that, although socially desirable, cannot be motivated by market incentives. Given the serious obstacles to efficient collective action, it should not be surprising that this action is typically performed poorly by government. Of course, the difficulty in carrying out collective action and the deficiencies in the political process are commonly used to make a strong case for restricting government to a very few functions that it can perform cost-effectively. Unfortunately, the very problems that make it desirable to impose effective constraints on government make it extremely difficult to do so. The flaws inherent in political decision making force a crucial trade-off that philosophical discussions about the ideal role for government typically overlook, the trade-off between the desirability of preventing government from doing things it does poorly and the desirability of securing advantages that only government action can provide. Precisely because government is
A Chest Wall Mass in a 73-Year-Old Man

(CHEST 2001; 120:2051–2052) A 73-year-old man presented to the emergency department with a productive cough, shortness of breath, and an enlarging chest wall mass 2 months after the completion of antituberculous therapy. He had a cough productive of brown sputum. He denied fever, chills, weight loss, hemoptysis, and night sweats. His medical history was notable for hypertension and also for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection that had been diagnosed by sputum culture with a compatible chest radiograph 14 months prior to admission. At the time of diagnosis, the patient had a pleural effusion, but he refused to undergo thoracocentesis. The MTB isolate was sen
Blended CS Courses using Massive, Open, Online Courses (and other Online Resources) (Abstract Only)

Computer science instructors are incorporating Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), and MOOC material, into their campus courses. The closed instance is the dominant model being followed, in which MOOC material (e.g., in AI, in Programming Languages, in Software Engineering) is ported to a protected LMS so that campus students can use the MOOC video and other material (e.g., assessments) and infrastructure (e.g., autograders) in a "private" manner. In an embedded instance, campus students take a live MOOC as one component of their on-campus course. Another model, albeit nascent, is to exploit self-paced open online courses so that campus cohorts can move through a course when a campus instructor wants, and at a pace the instructor wants, but still availing campus students to the advantages of interacting with global students (and vice versa). The BoF session will allow participants to talk about MOOC-based blended models, form a group interested to archiving experience, synthesizing best practices, creating shared learning-object repositories (e.g., of active learning, in-class activities), and to discuss issues of policy (e.g., FERPA).
Integrating Technical Communication into Engineering Curricula - An Implementation Model and Tools for Assessment of Success

The Louisiana State University (LSU) communication across the curriculum (CxC) program is a campus-wide initiative that seeks to integrate four key communications components (spoken, written, visual and technological) into existing curricula. The LSU College of Engineering has served as a pilot for implementation of the CxC program at the discipline-specific level. Central to the program is a process that certifies selected courses that emphasize any two of the four communication "flavors" as communications intensive (C-I). students and faculty in C-I courses are supported by the Engineering Communication Studio, a 3,000 square foot facility that was opened in October 2005. Several tools are being employed to measure the effectiveness of this initiative and the supporting studio. Data generated to date have indicated positive responses by both faculty and students. Preliminary data have also been used to modify selected components of the initiative to enhance the potential for future success in the overall program.
Relationship Between the Shell-Averaged Energy Spectrum and the Frequency Spectrum Measured by A Single Spacecraft in the Solar Wind

The relationship between the shell-averaged energy spectrum E(k) and the frequency spectrum P(f) measured by a single spacecraft is needed in studies of solar wind turbulence to allow comparisons between theory and experiment. This relationship is derived for a three-dimensional (scalar) wavevector spectrum of the power-law form that is either isotropic or cylindrically symmetric about the mean magnetic field. In the latter case, it is assumed that the power-law exponents in directions parallel and perpendicular to the mean magnetic field are the same, an assumption that allows the analysis to be performed analytically. The results show that the effects of anisotropy are small when the angle θ BV between the solar wind velocity and the mean magnetic field is between approximately 35° and 90°. The largest effects occur near 0° where a significant correction factor is needed compared to the isotropic case due to the lower energy in the k ∥ direction compared to the k ⊥ direction. For solar wind spectra with an unknown degree of anisotropy, measurements of E(k) obtained when 35° ≤ θ BV ≤ 90° should be reasonably accurate for most purposes since even if the spectrum is assumed to be isotropic and no corrections are made for spectral anisotropy, the resulting errors are typically less than 10% or 20%.
Development of a mathematical model for dependence of respiration rate of fresh produce on temperature and time

In order to simulate the respiration rate of fresh produce during transport, retailing and storage, a respiration model for time and temperature dependence was developed. First, a model for time, based on the enzyme kinetics, was derived at a constant temperature. Next, temperature dependence of the model parameters was evaluated using an Arrhenius plot, and the model incorporating both temperature and time dependence was developed. To verify the model, the respiration rates of eggplant, asparagus, and broccoli were measured at changing temperatures (25 to 10 to 20 to 10 to 25 °C) with time. The results indicated that the model simulation was valid and the model was able to represent the respiration process. In other words, the predicted values by using this model agreed well with the experimental data. The model is expected to be available for rough estimation of sugar consumption during distribution.
THE NEW DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: WHAT POPULATION GROWTH AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE MEAN FOR THE CITY

The District of Columbia was a magnet for new residents in the first part of the twenty-first century. Drawn by good jobs, new condos, and burgeoning entertainment districts, the city attracted tho...
Slush on the Mizzentops, Butter in the Hold: Food on American Clipper Ships

In the early years of the Gold Rush, the food carried by clipper ships sustained and shaped San Francisco. At first, clippers that could reach the city in less than a hundred days helped to save the burgeoning community of tents and shanties from hunger. Later, they Americanized its cuisine—and made fabulous profits—by carrying butter, hams, whiskey, and other Eastern staples to restaurants built in the holds of abandoned ships. The food served to sailors was often less exalted than that carried in the holds just below their feet, with simple dry biscuit and dry salted beef relieved only by the boiled puddings of flour and apples known as duff. The crews themselves were remarkably diverse, with Lascars and Scandinavians served dried peas and greasy “scouse” by African American or Chinese cooks who prepared meals in tiny, freestanding deckhouses. In later years, the clippers' influence on American food reversed itself, as they carried humble guano to rejuvenate depleted eastern agricultural land. But in their prime, the clippers were a unique confluence of necessity, engineering excellence, and beauty, as valued for the sight of their towering moonraker sails as for the food they carried.
Agglomeration, Regional Growth, and Economic Development

In the summer of 2007, the United Nations Population Fund released a report forecasting greatly increased levels of urbanization during the next two decades, especially in the developing world (United Nations 2007a). The report declared that for the first time in recorded history, more than half the world’s population resided in urban – not rural – areas. At roughly the same time, another agency of the United Nations (UN-Habitat) issued a report highlighting the slums and deplorable living conditions in cities in developing countries and estimating that at the end of 2007 there were more than a billion slum dwellers, largely in developing countries (United Nations 2007b). This latter report argued that in many cases the economic circumstances of urban migrants are worse than those of rural peasants. Four years earlier, it had been reported, also by the UN (United Nations 2003), that surveys of member governments eliciting their attitudes towards urbanization found that the “vast majority” of these governments would wish to shift populations back to rural areas and stem the tide of urbanization that has been experienced around the world.
Institutional Variation Among Russian Regional Regimes: Implications for Social Policy and the Development of Non-governmental Organizations

Russian regions exhibit wide diversity in institutional arrangements, not only due to varying natural conditions and economic development, but also due to the different political strategies pursued by their governors. Governors have wide discretion over the kinds of relationships they establish with local economic and social elites in the pursuit of nationally established goals. Some regional regimes are more pluralistic, others more authoritarian. Strategies for social and economic development vary as well. Some governors cooperate with local business associations and firms to induce investment and to overcome collective dilemmas such as those associated with skill formation. Characteristically, it is state actors who usually take the initiative in shaping state–society relations.
Characterization of class II β chain major histocompatibility complex genes in a family of Hawaiian honeycreepers: 'amakihi (Hemignathus virens).

Hawaiian honeycreepers (Drepanidinae) have evolved in the absence of mosquitoes for over five million years. Through human activity, mosquitoes were introduced to the Hawaiian archipelago less than 200 years ago. Mosquito-vectored diseases such as avian malaria caused by Plasmodium relictum and Avipoxviruses have greatly impacted these vulnerable species. Susceptibility to these diseases is variable among and within species. Due to their function in adaptive immunity, the role of major histocompatibility complex genes (Mhc) in disease susceptibility is under investigation. In this study, we evaluate gene organization and levels of diversity of Mhc class II β chain genes (exon 2) in a captive-reared family of Hawaii ‘amakihi (Hemignathus virens). A total of 233 sequences (173 bp) were obtained by PCR+1 amplification and cloning, and 5720 sequences were generated by Roche 454 pyrosequencing. We report a total of 17 alleles originating from a minimum of 14 distinct loci. We detected three linkage groups that appear to represent three distinct haplotypes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed one variable cluster resembling classical Mhc sequences (DAB) and one highly conserved, low variability cluster resembling non-classical Mhc sequences (DBB). High net evolutionary divergence values between DAB and DBB resemble that seen between chicken BLB system and YLB system genes. High amino acid identity among non-classical alleles from 12 species of passerines (DBB) and four species of Galliformes (YLB) was found, suggesting that these non-classical passerine sequences may be related to the Galliforme YLB sequences.
G.P.171

Osteoporosis is a major problem in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) patients due to long term glucocorticoid (GC) therapy and immobility. There is neither age-specific prevalence data nor consensus on management of osteoporosis in DMD. To determine age-specific prevalence of osteoporosis and frequency of poor bone health indices in pediatric DMD patients. Methods: We retrospectively examined age-specific prevalence of osteoporosis and poor bone health indices in GC-treated DMD patients seen between January 2005 and July 2012 at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Outcomes of interest were fractures (total, vertebral, long bone), and low age- and height-adjusted z -scores ( z -scores also increased with age, and varied with site of measurement. Osteoporosis is frequent in DMD patients from a young age. Our study is the first to examine age-specific prevalence of osteoporosis and frequency of poor bone health indices throughout the pediatric age span in a large DMD cohort. These data also highlight the complexity of bone health measures, and the urgent need to improve detection, prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in DMD.
Measuring IL-6 and sIL-6R in serum from patients treated with tocilizumab and/or siltuximab following CAR T cell therapy

T cells expressing a CD19-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR19) are demonstrating remarkable efficacy in hematologic malignancies. Treatment is often associated with life-threatening cytokine release syndrome (CRS) which can be effectively treated with cytokine blockade using the antibodies, Siltuximab or Tocilizumab respectively targeting IL-6 or the IL-6 receptor. As IL-6 blockade is moving into the clinic for the treatment of CRS as well as IL-6-driven rheumatologic and malignant diseases, clinicians are utilizing serum cytokine panels more frequently to assess the effects of IL-6 inhibitors. It is paramount to ascertain whether levels obtained are accurate, especially as certain drugs may, in theory, affect quantification. We report the comparative quantification of IL-6 and sIL-6R using Luminex-based immunoassay kits from two vendors. Our results indicate good agreement of the commercial immunoassays in measurement of IL-6 but disagreement in quantitation of sIL-6R. We found that both Siltuximab and Tocilizumab can interfere with the measurement of their respective ligands using reagents from one vendor but not the second. This has significant implications for the analysis of IL-6 and sIL-6R pharmacokinetics analysis in Siltuximab or Tocilizumab-treated patients. We found that high levels of IL-6 can falsely reduce the measured levels of sIL-6R and high levels of sIL-6R can reduce levels of IL-6 when measured with some commercial assays. These data demonstrate the importance of assessing the impact of cytokine-blocking agents on accuracy of clinical biomarker assays in other diseases, as drugs targeting TNF-alpha, IL1B, and IL5 are being used more frequently in a large number of diseases.
Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (PfCRT) isoforms PH1 and PH2 perturb vacuolar physiology

Recent work has perfected yeast-based methods for measuring drug transport by the Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine (CQ) resistance transporter (PfCRT). The approach relies on inducible heterologous expression of PfCRT in Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. In these experiments selecting drug concentrations are not toxic to the yeast, nor is expression of PfCRT alone toxic. Only when PfCRT is expressed in the presence of CQ is the growth of yeast impaired, due to inward transport of chloroquine (CQ) via the transporter. During analysis of all 53 known naturally occurring PfCRT isoforms, two isoforms (PH1 and PH2 PfCRT) were found to be intrinsically toxic to yeast, even in the absence of CQ. Additional analysis of six very recently identified PfCRT isoforms from Malaysia also showed some toxicity. In this paper the nature of this yeast toxicity is examined. Data also show that PH1 and PH2 isoforms of PfCRT transport CQ with an efficiency intermediate to that catalyzed by previously studied CQR conferring isoforms. Mutation of PfCRT at position 160 is found to perturb vacuolar physiology, suggesting a fitness cost to position 160 amino acid substitutions. These data further define the wide range of activities that exist for PfCRT isoforms found in P. falciparum isolates from around the globe.
Renal artery aneurysms: diagnosis, management and outcomes.

Renal artery aneurysms are an uncommon vascular entity and are more likely to affect younger patients without significant atherosclerotic risk factors as compared to patients with renal artery occlusive disease. Hypertension is a commonly associated disease and the renal artery aneurysm may be causal, exclusive of renal artery occlusive disease. Diagnosis is often made incidentally but arteriography is essential for good operative planning. The main complication of RAA is rupture, which is increased in peripartum females. Operative therapy is primarily in situ aneurysmectomy and angio-plastic closure or exclusion and bypass, usually with autologous conduit. It is currently recommended that in good operative risk patients, repair is recommended for RAA >1.0 cm when hypertension present and RAA >1.5 to 2.0 cm when no hypertension present. Given the anatomic complexity of these lesions, little role for endovascular therapy is forecast.
Process regime variability across growth faults in the Paleogene Lower Wilcox Guadalupe Delta, South Texas Gulf Coast

Abstract The Wilcox Group in Texas is a 3000 m thick unit of clastic sediments deposited along the Gulf of Mexico coast during early Paleogene. This study integrates core facies analysis with subsurface well-log correlation to document the sedimentology and stratigraphy of the Lower Wilcox Guadalupe Delta. Core descriptions indicate a transition from wave- and tidally-influenced to wave-dominated deposition. Upward-coarsening facies successions contain current ripples, organic matter, low trace fossil abundance and low diversity, which suggest deposition in a fluvial prodelta to delta front environment. Heterolithic stratification with lenticular, wavy and flaser bedding indicate tidal influence. Pervasively bioturbated sandy mudstones and muddy sandstones with Cruziana ichnofacies and structureless sandstones with Ophiomorpha record deposition in wave-influenced deltas. Tidal channels truncate delta front deposits and display gradational upward-fining facies successions with basal lags and sandy tabular cross-beds passing into heterolithic tidal flats and biologically homogenized mudstones. Growth faults within the lower Wilcox control expanded thickness of sedimentary units (up to 4 times) on the downdip sides of faults. Increased local accommodation due to fault subsidence favors a stronger wave regime on the outer shelf due to unrestricted fetch and water depth. As the shoreline advances during deltaic progradation, successively more sediment is deposited in the downthrown depocenters and reworked along shore by wave processes, resulting in a thick sedimentary unit characterized by repeated stacking of shoreface sequences. Thick and laterally continuous clean sandstone successions in the downthrown compartments represent attractive hydrocarbon reservoirs. As a consequence of the wave dominance and increased accommodation, thick (tens of meters) sandstone-bodies with increased homogeneity and vertical permeability within the stacked shoreface successions are created.
Multiresidue method for the chromatographic determination of triazine herbicides and their metabolites in raw agricultural products

A method is described for the determination of 19 triazine herbicides and 4 metabolites in 6 agricultural products that represent diverse matrixes. In addition, a modification of this method to determine the more water-soluble metabolite, desethyldesisopropylatrazine, is described. In both these procedures, residues are extracted with methanol, and the product coextractives are removed using solvent partition and cation-exchange solid-phase extraction chromatography. A nitrogen phosphorus detector and DB-17 megabore column are used for the temperature-programmed chromatographic determination of samples fortified at 0.02-1.0 ppm levels. Average recoveries ranged from 81.1 to 106.2% for the parent herbicides and from 59.6 to 87.5% for the metabolites on all crops. An average recovery of 101.1% was obtained for desethyldesisopropylatrazine.
Accessibility and Usability of Social Media: Convergence between Blind Users and Design Standards

About 300 million people with vision impairments face significant access and usability barriers in interacting with social networking sites (SNS) to communicate, collaborate and enhance professional relationships. These barriers primarily result from the visuo-centric design of Web 2.0 technologies. Literature recognizes that SNS interaction with assistive technologies is problematic, but does not clarify: W here, how and why blind users face SNS interaction challenges? This paper reports the findings of an exploratory field study to answer this question. Thinkaloud observations and verbal protocol analysis was used for a contextually-situated and experiential understanding of blind SNS users’ accessibility and usability problems. Results illustrate the nature of problems, identify problematic design elements, and explain character of these problems. Findings have implications for research on blind empowerment, human-computer interactions, and improving SNS accessibility and usability for all users.
Cape Verdeans in the Atlantic: the formation of Kriolu music and dance styles on ship and in port

Working from the premise that Cape Verde is a member of the Black Atlantic musical family whose styles flowed freely from port to port, this study has delved deeper into the styles and time frames that figured into the mix, verifying that periods of intense transatlantic port activity correspond to the emergence of new genres. Cape Verde’s musical history might be viewed as a sandbar on the beach that is continually reshaped and born a new by waves of musical influences circling between the continents. The ideas of individual Cape Verdeans ultimately created the music, of course, and a comparative approach is not meant to lessen those musicians’ importance, or detract from the beauty and perfection of Cape Verde’s greatest treasure. The footprints of transatlantic connections in Cape Verdean musical styles can be found in its rhythms, instruments, vocabularies, scores, and ship route patterns. People create styles, and musical communication happens on the personal level - through sailors sharing a tune at sea, through encounters in harbor dancehalls, and through ideas brought back home. Generations of seafarers found safe harbor in Cape Verde, carrying music round and round the Atlantic, and this process is still shaping the local forms, although the travel is now by jet, and the exchanges are often over the worldwide web. While some details about musical communities on the high seas may be lost to us, there is still information to be gained about Cape Verdean musical forms through a study of the multi-directional movements of musicians, artifacts, repertoires, and ideas around the Atlantic rim.
Relative Navigation Using Only Intersatellite Range Measurements

There are a number of emerging and important operational scenarios in which relative navigation using only range measurements may be desirable, such as a formation of spacecraft capable of performing intersatellite ranging over a uhf/vhf communication link. Despite the existence of such scenarios, little published work exists on the problem of range-only relative navigation. The present work explores the observability of range-only relative navigation, and establishes that there are four possible relative trajectories for general three-dimensional motion that will produce exactly the same time history of range measurements. Various special relative orbits can produce other multiplicities of possible relative trajectories, such as two, eight, or infinitely many. After establishing that multiple solutions exist (two, four, eight, or infinitely many), a method for quickly computing these solutions for initial relative-orbit determination is described. The sequential processing of range measurements in an ext...
Localization in International Branding

International product policies, of which one of the important sub-areas is international branding, is among the top ten key subject areas that researchers are encouraged to study in order to strengthen the global marketing discipline (Hampton and van Gent, 1984). International branding is a localization process. This paper reports a preliminary effort to investigate this process by studying 261 localized Chinese brand names of foreign brands being marketed in Hong Kong. These localized brand names are found to be of reasonable length, easily pronounceable, and containing either positive or neutral connotations by themselves. Looking at these localized brand names in terms of translation from their original counterparts, most of them are found to be similar in length to their originals, reading similarly in Cantonese to the original names' pronunciation, and containing dissimilar connotations to those of the original names. Possible explanations are also discussed.
Conclusion: Latinos, Identity, and a Grim Forecast for Republican Hopes

In this chapter, Saavedra Cisneros briefly summarizes the findings from the empirical chapters of the book. The theory of Latino partisanship shows how the disconnect between Republican campaign rhetoric and the proclaimed desire to appeal to minorities make it unlikely that Latinos will flock to the Republican Party. The author discusses possible avenues for the Republican Party to become more diverse and have a better chance of winning future national-level elections.
Composition of phenolic compounds in wild apple with multiple resistance mechanisms against postharvest blue mold decay

Abstract Several wild apple accessions (Malus sieversii) from Kazakhstan and two (Malus × soulardii, Malus sylvestris) from other parts of the world are highly resistant to blue mold decay caused by Penicillium expansum. Previous studies on the wound responses of these apples to infection by this fungus suggest multiple mechanisms of resistance including innate immunity. In this study, the phenolic composition of extracts from mature wild apples resistant (GMAL 4317.f, PI 589391, and PI 369855) and susceptible (GMAL 3623.i) to blue mold, as well as the susceptible cultivar ‘Golden Delicious’ (Malus × domestica) were investigated using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detection and high resolution multiple stage mass spectrometry (UHPLC/DAD/HRMS). The metabolomic and quantitative results of this study support the hypothesis of the possible relationship between the phenolic content of wild apples and their resistance to P. expansum. Apple accessions resistant to P. expansum had higher concentrations of procyanidins, dihydrochalocone, flavonols, and hydroxycinnamic acids. Findings from this study may lead to development of the physiological markers of resistance that could be used by breeders in evaluating crosses for resistance to blue mold and may be helpful to further define apple defense mechanism(s) against P. expansum.
Deterrency and Toxicity of Essential Oils to Argentine and Red Imported Fire Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Laboratory assays were conducted to evaluate deterrency and contact toxicity of six essential oils to the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr), and the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren. In choice tests, both Argentine ants and fire ants crossed barriers treated with multiple rates of basil, citronella, lemon, peppermint, or tea tree oil less frequently than paired control barriers. Eucalyptus oil did not prevent movement of either species at any of the rates tested. In continuous exposure assays, citronella oil killed 50% of Argentine ants in 34.3 min and was the only treatment to cause 100% Argentine ant mortality after 24 h. Argentine ant mortality after 24 h was 89.8% with peppermint oil and 85.7% with tea tree oil, with the remaining treatments having mortality not significantly different from the control. Only citronella oil caused significant mortality of red imported fire ants, with 50.6% of the ants being dead after 24 h of continuous exposure.
A self-learning disturbance observer for nonlinear systems in feedback-error learning scheme

This paper represents a novel online self-learning disturbance observer (SLDO) by benefiting from the combination of a type-2 neuro-fuzzy structure (T2NFS), feedback-error learning scheme and sliding mode control (SMC) theory. The SLDO is developed within a framework of feedback-error learning scheme in which a conventional estimation law and a T2NFS work in parallel. In this scheme, the latter learns uncertainties and becomes the leading estimator whereas the former provides the learning error to the T2NFS for learning system dynamics. A learning algorithm established on SMC theory is derived for an interval type-2 fuzzy logic system. In addition to the stability of the learning algorithm, the stability of the SLDO and the stability of the overall system are proven in the presence of time-varying disturbances. Thanks to learning process by the T2NFS, the simulation results show that the SLDO is able to estimate time-varying disturbances precisely as distinct from the basic nonlinear disturbance observer (BNDO) so that the controller based on the SLDO ensures robust control performance for systems with time-varying uncertainties, and maintains nominal performance in the absence of uncertainties. HighlightsAn online learning algorithm based on sliding mode control theory for type-2 neuro-fuzzy structure (T2NFS) is developed.The feedback-error learning approach is proposed for an observer design for the first-time.The overall system stability is proven considering the dynamics of the proposed self-learning disturbance observer (SLDO).The required computation time for the SLDO is significantly less than other methods.It is possible to estimate disturbances without the knowledge about the upper bound of disturbances and their derivatives.
Probing the molecular weight dependent intramolecular interactions in single molecules of PCDTBT

Push–pull conjugated polymers have shown high performance in organic photovoltaic devices and yet, there have been fewer studies of the fundamental structure–property relationship in this class of materials compared to prototypical conjugated homopolymers MEH-PPV and P3HT. Here we report a single molecule study of a push–pull polymer poly[N-(1-octylnonyl)-2,7-carbazole]-alt-5,5-[4′,7′-di(thien-2-yl)-2′,1′,3′-benzothiadiazole] (PCDTBT) to understand the origin of the substantial band gap narrowing and the sensitivity of peak position to chain length even for long polymer chains. In bulk solution, the peak of the emission spectrum was observed to shift from a higher energy emission state to a lower energy state above a critical molecular weight. This same trend was observed at the single molecule level where there were two clear emission species. At low MW the single molecules showed emission predominately from the higher energy state. Above the critical molecular weight, the single molecules changed and showed emission from the low energy species. At the transition MW, a mixture was observed with molecules emitting from one or the other of the two species. The transition from the high energy to low energy state at a particular molecular weight is likely the result of substantial intermolecular self-interactions between chain segments that leads to excitation delocalization. This is made possible at even higher molecular weight and lengths where there are more energy transfer pathways for the already long polymer chains.
The Bioactive Protein-Ligand Conformation of GluN2C-Selective Positive Allosteric Modulators Bound to the NMDA Receptor

N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are ligand-gated, cation-selective channels that mediate a slow component of excitatory synaptic transmission. Subunit-selective positive allosteric modulators of NMDA receptor function have therapeutically relevant effects on multiple processes in the brain. A series of pyrrolidinones, such as PYD-106, that selectively potentiate NMDA receptors that contain the GluN2C subunit have structural determinants of activity that reside between the GluN2C amino terminal domain and the GluN2C agonist binding domain, suggesting a unique site of action. Here we use molecular biology and homology modeling to identify residues that line a candidate binding pocket for GluN2C-selective pyrrolidinones. We also show that occupancy of only one site in diheteromeric receptors is required for potentiation. Both GluN2A and GluN2B can dominate the sensitivity of triheteromeric receptors to eliminate the actions of pyrrolidinones, thus rendering this series uniquely sensitive to subunit stoichiometry. We experimentally identified NMR-derived conformers in solution, which combined with molecular modeling allows the prediction of the bioactive binding pose for this series of GluN2C-selective positive allosteric modulators of NMDA receptors. These data advance our understanding of the site and nature of the ligand-protein interaction for GluN2C-selective positive allosteric modulators for NMDA receptors.
Imaging of Ultra-Confined Phonon Polaritons in Hexagonal Boron Nitride on Gold

We investigated infrared phonon polariton on thin hexagonal boron nitride flakes on gold. We successfully imaged ultraslow guided modes in both restrahlen bands, using photo-induced force microscopy and scattering type near field scanning optical microscopy.
Sedentary Time and Cumulative Risk of Preserved and Reduced Ejection Fraction Heart Failure: From the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

ABSTRACT Background This study examined the relationship between self-reported sedentary time (ST) and the cumulative risk of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in a diverse cohort of U.S. adults 45–84 years of age. Methods and Results Using data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), we identified 6,814 subjects, all free of baseline cardiovascular disease. Cox regression was used to calculate the hazard ratios (HR) associated with risk of HFpEF and HFrEF. Weekly ST was dichotomized based on the 75th percentile (1890 min/wk). During ∼11.2 years of follow-up there were 178 first incident HF diagnoses: 74 HFpEF and 69 HFrEF. Baseline ST >1890 min/wk was significantly associated with an increased risk of HFpEF (HR 1.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13–3.09, P = .01), but not of HFrEF. The relationship with HFpEF remained significant in fully adjusted models including physical activity and waist circumference (HR 2.16, 95% CI 1.23–3.78, P Conclusions Sedentary time >1890 min/wk (∼4.5 h/d) is a significant predictor of HFpEF, independently from physical activity and adiposity.
Percutaneous heel cord release for clubfoot: a retrospective, multicentre cost analysis.

Abstract Purpose The Ponseti method of treatment is the standard of care for idiopathic clubfoot. Following serial casting, percutaneous tendo-Achilles tenotomy (TAT) is performed to correct residu...