cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Composition and structure of camphor hydroxylase components and homology between putidaredoxin and adrenodoxin.

Abstract The three pure protein components of D-camphor- exo -hydroxylase are shown to be single polypeptides. The molecular weights in daltons are cytochrome P-450cam 45,000, putidaredoxin 12,500, and reductase 43,500, including, respectively, one molecule each of ferriheme (Protoporphyrin 9), (FeS)2 iron sulfide, and FAD. Homologous compositions and sequences of putida- and adrenoredoxins exceed the similarity of either to the (FeS)2 plant ferredoxins. Adrenodoxin does not meet the specificity requirements for the P-450cam-putidaredoxin hydroxylase reaction.
Translation of fiber properties into composites

The strength and modulus of elasticity of fiber-reinforced plastic composites are a function of the strength, modulus, volume content, and directional orientation of the fibers used in the composites. Continuous fibers are generally preferable to noncontinuous fibers because the continuous types are easier to align, impregnate with resin, and fabricate into large structures by filament-winding techniques. The principal function of the matrix in a composite is the transfer of loads between and among fibers. For plastic matrices both chemical adhesion of the matrix to the fibers and shrinkage of the matrix around the fibers are important factors in this load transfer. The structural efficiency of fibers in composites is usually determined by measuring mechanical properties of simple composite specimens containing known volume per cents of the fibers, and comparing the measured mechanical properties of the composites with those predicted analytically.
Role of Echocardiography in the Treatment of Cardiac Tamponade

Accumulation of fluid within the pericardial sac results in elevation of intrapericardial pressure with consequent cardiac compression or tamponade. Cardiac tamponade is a life-threatening condition which requires urgent evacuation of pericardial effusion (PE). Current pericardial evacuation techniques and approaches are varied. Echocardiography provides valuable insights into identifying patients who are suitable candidates and further facilitates pericardiocentesis by improving guidance techniques. Several previous publications have provided excellent reviews of the pathophysiology of cardiac tamponade. We review the clinical presentation and role of echocardiography for diagnosis of tamponade. We focus on medical and surgical approaches for the removal of PE. Moreover, as the clinical and hemodynamic consequences of PE depend on the volume and the rate of accumulation of PE, we review the various scenarios of "small" PE resulting in cardiac tamponade.
Inhibition of adenovirus-transformed cell oncogenicity by adeno-associated virus

Abstract Adeno-associated virus (AAV) has been shown to inhibit the oncogenicity and transforming ability of adenovirus (Ad). Using the H14b Ad-transformed hamster cell line, we have developed a model system in which to characterize the molecular events responsible for these inhibitory effects. AAV infection of H14b cells decreases their oncogenicity by approximately threefold. The tumors that do arise are significantly smaller and have a longer latent period. AAV infection also alters the in vitro properties of the H14b cells, reducing cloning efficiency in methyl cellulose by 38–92% and saturation density by two- to fourfold. The molecular basis of this inhibition appears to be an inhibition of production of the 58K tumor antigen as determined by fluorescent antibody and immunoprecipitation studies. The reduction in the levels of tumor antigens are not due to alterations or loss of the Ad genome within H14b cells but may reflect an alteration in transcription or processing of Ad-specific mRNA. AAV infection of H14b cells does not lead to detectable levels of AAV DNA synthesis, but some AAV transcripts are made. This is the first instance in which AAV transcription has been detected in an Ad-transformed cell line.
Objective methods in postlingually and prelingually deafened adults for programming cochlear implants: ESR and NRT.

AbstractThis study compared responses of prelingually and postlingually deafened adult Nucleus 24 cochlear implant users on two objective measures employed to predict programming levels: neural response telemetry (NRT) and electrically evoked stapedial reflexes (eSR). Thirty experienced postlingually and prelingually deafened adult implant users underwent standard behavioural judgements of maximum comfortable loudness levels (C levels) and thresholds (Ts) followed by eSR and NRT measurements. Two different programs were created based on both the subjective judgement and the objective estimates of C levels (eSR thresholds) and these were compared. Relationships between the subjective and the objective measures were statistically analysed. Maximum stimulation levels estimated by both eSR and NRT were highly correlated with C levels. Variability of NRT results was higher than for eSR results. Mean NRT thresholds for postlingually deafened patients were higher than for prelingually deafened patients. A number...
The impact of father absence on moral development in females

Maslow's (1954, 1962)hierarchy of needs suggests that lower level needs (e.g., physiological needs) must be met before higher level needs (e.g., self-actualization) will be focused upon. According to Simpson (1976), one's growth in moral development seems to closely parallel the satisfaction of the needs along Maslow's hierarchy. Since father absence, either through death or divorce, may mean that children's lower level needs may not be satisfied, it follows that their subsequent moral development may also be inhibited. This notion was investigated in the present study.
Adverse events after recombinant human BMP2 in nonspinal orthopaedic procedures.

Background The FDA has approved recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) for treating acute, open tibial shaft fractures. However, the nature and frequency of complications after the use of rhBMP-2 in nonspinal orthopaedic surgery have not been well characterized.
Nosocomial aspergillosis: how much protection for which patients?

downs in ventilation permitting introduction of a variety of airborne opportunistic fungal spores. * Virtually all nosocomial aspergillosis could be prevented if enough money were available. Unfortunately, this goal requires amounts of money that cannot be rationally allocated. * Nosocomial aspergillosis cases are more highly concentrated in a specific population-immunosuppressed patients-than any other type of nosocomial infection.
A truthful approximation mechanism for autonomic virtual machine provisioning and allocation in clouds

One of the major challenges faced by the cloud providers is to allocate and provision the resources such that their profit is maximized and the resources are utilized efficiently. We address this challenge by designing an autonomic VM (Virtual Machine) provisioning and allocation mechanism that adapts to the changing user demands. We show that the proposed mechanism is a PTAS (Polynomial-Time Approximation Scheme) and that it is truthful, that is, the users do not have incentives to lie about their requested bundles of VM instances and their valuations. We perform extensive experiments in order to investigate the properties of the mechanism.
Tolerancing The Lite Optical System

This paper describes the optical system used in the Lidar In-Space Technology Experiment (LITE) and presents the results of a study designed to generate a tolerance budget for the LITE, using the combination of manual and Monte Carlo tolerancing techniques utilizing the SYNOPSYS optical analysis program. The tolerance budget derived for LITE, including the contributions of both the fabrication and the alignment of the optical-path elements, are presented. It is shown that the nature of the design allows for typical optical shop tolerances of about 5 mils of despace and decenter, 0.1 deg of tilt, and about 5 fringes of surface figure error.
Histochemical and immunohistochemical similarities between hepatic tumors in two chimpanzees and man

A well-differentiated trabecular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and a well-differentiated tumor resembling HCC from each of two chimpanzees were found to have histochemical and immunohistochemical staining characteristics similar to those in human HCCs. Transforming growth factor alpha was overexpressed in both tumors. Oval cells, thought to be liver stem cell progeny with a possible role in hepatocarcinogenesis, were observed among nontumorous hepatocytes, particularly near the tumors. Hepatic tumors are rare in chimpanzees but their similarities to human HCC provides a useful research model.
On the number of views of translates of a cube and related problems

It is known that a general polyhedral scene of complexity n has at most O(n6) combinatorially different orthographic views and at most O(n9) combinatorially different perspective views, and that these bounds are tight in the worst case. In this paper we show that, for the special case of scenes consisting of a collection of n translates of a cube, these bounds improve to O(n4 + e) and O(n6+e), for any e > 0, respectively. In addition, we present constructions inducing Ω(n4) combinatorially different orthographic views and Ω(n6) combinatorially different perspective views, thus showing that these bounds are nearly tight in the worst case. Finally, we show how to extend the upper and lower bounds to several classes of related scenes.
Differential expression of forkhead box transcription factors following butylated hydroxytoluene lung injury.

The forkhead box (Fox) proteins are a growing family of transcription factors that have important roles in cellular proliferation and differentiation and in organ morphogenesis. The Fox family memb...
Quantitative intact specimen magnetic resonance microscopy at 3.0 T.

In this report, we discuss the application of a methodology for high-contrast, high-resolution magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM) of murine tissue using a 3.0-T imaging system. We employed a threefold strategy that included customized specimen preparation to maximize image contrast, three-dimensional data acquisition to minimize scan time and custom radiofrequency resonator design to maximize signal sensitivity. Images had a resolution of 100×78×78 µm3 with a signal-to-noise ratio per voxel greater than 25:1 and excellent contrast-to-noise ratios over a 30-min acquisition. We quantitatively validated the methods through comparisons of neuroanatomy across two lines of genetically engineered mice. Specifically, we were able to detect volumetric differences of as little as 9% between genetically engineered mouse strains in multiple brain regions that were predictive of underlying impairments in brain development. The overall methodology was straightforward to implement and provides ready access to basic MRM at field strengths that are widely available in both the laboratory and the clinic.
A new sliding-mode based control design for induction motors propelling electric vehicle drives

In this paper, a variable structure controller based on sliding-mode design is proposed for induction motors that propel electric vehicle drives. The underlying design concept is to endow the closed loop system with high performance dynamics for all possible speed ranges while maximizing power efficiency and keeping the required stator currents within the inverter ceiling limits. The proposed approach is based on a new variable structure control switching surface derived from a nonlinear formulation of sliding surfaces. With the proposed nonlinear variable structure, the exponential stability of the inner loop is guaranteed and insensitivity to uncertainties and disturbances are achieved as well. The robustness, accuracy, fast dynamic response and wide speed-range operation of the drive using the proposed control approach is demonstrated by computer experiment results.
Current Perspectives on Role of Chromatin Modifications and Deacetylases in Lung Inflammation in COPD

Chromatin modifications and epigenetic regulation are critical for sustained and abnormal inflammatory response seen in lungs of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) because the activities of enzymes that regulate these epigenetic modifications are altered in response to cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoke induces chromatin modifications and epigenetic changes by causing post-translational modifications of histone acetyltransferases, and histone/non-histone deacetylases (HDACs), such as HDAC2 and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), which leads to chromatin remodeling. In this review, we discussed the current knowledge on cigarette smoke/oxidants-induced post-translational modifications of deacetylases (HDAC2 and SIRT1), disruption of HDAC2/SIRT1-RelA/p65 corepressor complex associated with acetylation of RelA/p65, and chromatin modifications (histone H3 phospho-acetylation) leading to sustained pro-inflammatory gene transcription. Knowledge on molecular mechanisms of epigenetic changes in abnormal lung ...
Managing Culture as a Competitive Resource: An Identity-Based View of Sustainable Competitive Advantage:

How can organizations manage the cognitive processes by which a firm invests in resources for competitive advantage? Studies of organizational culture, as currently framed, have not provided adequate answers to this question. By focusing either on culture as underlying beliefs or on culture as behavioral manifestations, these studies have overlooked the critical links between beliefs and behaviors that are at the very core of managing cognitive processes for sustained advantage.This article reframes the culture concept to highlight the role of contextual identities in linking behaviors and their social meaning in organizations. Drawing on theories from cultural linguistics and structural anthropology, it argues that cognitive processes in organizations do not directly reflect either behaviors or underlying beliefs. Rather, they represent the interface between the two. To manage cognitive processes for competitive advantage requires that we attend to the identities by which people make sense of what they d...
Assessing Concurrent Think-Aloud Protocol as a Usability Test Method: A Technical Communication Approach

Concurrent think-aloud protocol (CTA) is often used in usability test settings to gain insight into participants' thoughts during their task performances. This study adds to a growing body of research within technical communication that addresses the use of think-aloud protocols in usability test settings. The eye movements and verbalizations of 10 participants were recorded as they searched for information on a website. The analysis of transcripts and real-time eye movement showed that CTA is an accurate data-collection method. The researcher found that the majority of user verbalizations in the study included words, phrases, and sentences that users read from the screen. Silence and verbal fillers that occurred during CTA enabled users to assess and process information during their searches. This study demonstrates the value technical communicators add to the study of usability test methods, and the paper recommends future avenues of research.
Frequency of echogenic intracardiac focus by race/ethnicity in euploid fetuses

Objective. To determine the frequency of echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) by race/ethnicity.Methods. We performed a retrospective analysis from January 1996 through June 2003. We reviewed all initial sonograms from 14 to 23 weeks gestation in singleton pregnancies. Mothers on admission for delivery provided race/ethnicity.Results. There were 8207 ultrasounds and deliveries that met study criteria. There were 4636 (56.5%) Caucasian, 2087 (25.4%) African-American, 1261 (15.4%) Hispanic and 223 (2.7 %) Asian subjects. There were 347 (4.2%) EIF detected. The frequency by race/ethnicity varied significantly (p < 0.0001).Conclusions. This large, population-based study showed that fetuses born to Asian mothers were significantly more likely to have an EIF. This racial difference should be taken into account when counseling patients about the potential for Down syndrome.
On the Robustness of the Botnet Topology Formed by Worm Infection

Peer-to-peer botnets formed by worm infection have become a real threat to the Internet and are expected to become rampant in the near future. In our previous work, we have analyzed the underlying botnet topology formed by worm infection, without considering potential user defenses. In this paper, we extend the study to characterize the evolution of the botnet structure when users patch or clean part of infected hosts after all vulnerable machines are compromised. Specifically, we examine the number of peers of an infected host and the size of disconnected botnets under random node removal through simulation. We find that when part of infected hosts are patched or cleaned, the distribution of the number of peers follows closely an exponential distribution, whereas the distribution of the size of isolated botnets is power-law. Moreover, we also evaluate a simple countermeasure by botnets that enhances topology robustness through worm re-infection, and show that re-infection can significantly mitigate the effectiveness of patching and cleaning on the botnet structure. We believe that such a study can not only provide better understandings on both the strength and the weakness of botnets, but also better prepare us for future attacks.
GAUGE CAPABILITY ANALYSIS AND DESIGNED EXPERIMENTS. PART II: EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN MODELS AND VARIANCE COMPONENT ESTIMATION

This article discusses experimental design models for the classical gauge repeatability and reproducibility study. Both factorial and nested models are considered, and the conditions under which each model is appropriate are described. Point estimates a..
The sources of structural metaphors in teacher knowledge: Three cases

Abstract In this paper I examine the sources of structural metaphors in the knowledge base of three experienced secondary teachers, who use these metaphors to construct content meaning for students. Having earlier analyzed the relation of these structural metaphors to teachers' subject matter understanding as manifest in their classroom teaching, I returned to these three teachers to talk with them about the appropriateness of my analysis to their work, about how they use metaphorical thinking in conceptualizing their work, and about the sources of these structural conceptions. The result is a jointly coordinated description and analysis of how three teachers perceive, organize, and give meaning to themselves, their experiences, and their worlds.
Windowing Chicken Eggs for Developmental Studies

The study of development has been greatly aided by the use of the chick embryo as an experimental model. The ease of accessibility of the embryo has allowed for experiments to map cell fates using several approaches, including chick quail chimeras and focal dye labeling. In addition, it allows for molecular perturbations of several types, including placement of protein-coated beads and introduction of plasmid DNA using in ovo electroporation. These experiments have yielded important data on the development of the central and peripheral nervous systems. For many of these studies, it is necessary to open the eggshell and reclose it without perturbing the embryo's growth. The embryo can be examined at successive developmental stages by re-opening the eggshell. While there are several excellent methods for opening chicken eggs, in this article we demonstrate one method that has been optimized for long survival times. In this method, the egg rests on its side and a small window is cut in the shell. After the experimental procedure, the shell is used to cover the egg for the duration of its development. Clear plastic tape overlying the eggshell protects the embryo and helps retain hydration during the remainder of the incubation period. This method has been used beginning at two days of incubation and has allowed survival through mature embryonic ages.
Expression of Genes Encoding Th1 Cell-Activating Cytokines and Lymphoid Homing Chemokines by Chlamydia-Pulsed Dendritic Cells Correlates with Protective Immunizing Efficacy

We studied the expression of cytokines, chemokines, and chemokine receptors by the RNase protection assay in chlamydia-pulsed dendritic cells to better understand their potent anti-chlamydial immunizing properties. We found that chlamydia-pulsed dendritic cells express a complex profile of inflammatory and immunomodulatory molecules. These include CCR-7, interleukin-12, and interferon-induced protein 10, molecules that might influence the homing of pulsed dendritic cells to the site of chlamydial infection and the induction of a local protective CD4+ Th1 cellular immunity.
Impact of biological soil crusts and desert plants on soil microfaunal community composition

Carbon and nitrogen are supplied by a variety of sources in the desert food web; both vascular and non-vascular plants and cyanobacteria supply carbon, and cyanobacteria and plant-associated rhizosphere bacteria are sources of biological nitrogen fixation. The objective of this study was to compare the relative influence of vascular plants and biological soil crusts on desert soil nematode and protozoan abundance and community composition. In the first experiment, biological soil crusts were removed by physical trampling. Treatments with crust removed had fewer nematodes and a greater relative ratio of bacterivores to microphytophages than treatments with intact crust. However, protozoa composition was similar with or without the presence of crusts. In a second experiment, nematode community composition was characterized along a spatial gradient away from stems of grasses or shrubs. Although nematodes generally occurred in increasing abundance nearer to plant stems, some genera (such as the enrichment-type Panagrolaimus) increased disproportionately more than others (such as the stress-tolerant Acromoldavicus). We propose that the impact of biological soil crusts and desert plants on soil microfauna, as reflected in the community composition of microbivorous nematodes, is a combination of carbon input, microclimate amelioration, and altered soil hydrology.
Empirical software engineering at Microsoft Research

We describe the activities of the Empirical Software Engi-neering (ESE) group at Microsoft Research. We highlight our research themes and activities using examples from our research on socio technical congruence, bug reporting and triaging, and data-driven software engineering to illustrate our relationship to the CSCW community. We highlight our unique ability to leverage industrial data and developers and the ability to make near term impact on Microsoft via the results of our studies. We also present the collaborations our group has with academic researchers.
A Decade of Charter Schools: From Theory to Practice

Charter schools have become an increasingly significant aspect of the educational landscape. After a decade of implementation and research, this article returns to some of the original ideas underlying charter schools—including autonomy, accountability, and performance outcomes—to assess what progress has been made and what is still unknown. Although some successes are evident, there is still much to learn about the quality of charter schools and the experiences of charter school stakeholders. There is strong evidence that parents and students who remain in charter schools are satisfied and that charter schools are more autonomous than other public schools. But the jury is still out on some of the most important questions, including those about innovation, accountability, equity, and outcomes. This article provides a framework for examining research on charter schools and some guiding questions for future work.
Expression and Action of Transforming Growth Factor Alpha in Normal Ovarian Surface Epithelium and Ovarian Cancer

Greater than 95% of ovarian cancers originate in the epithelial cells on the surface of the ovary. The current study investigates the expression and action of transforming growth factor alpha (TGFa) in ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) and the underlying stroma in both normal and tumorigenic ovarian tissues. Normal bovine ovaries are used in the current study as a model system to investigate normal OSE functions. Transforming growth factor alpha and its receptor, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), were detected in the OSE from normal ovaries by immunocytochemistry (ICC). Ovarian stromal tissue also contained reduced but positive TGFa and EGFR immunostaining. To examine TGFa and EGFR gene expression, RNA was collected from normal bovine OSE and ovarian stromal cells. The TGFa and EGFR transcripts were detected in both fresh and cultured OSE and stromal cells by a sensitive quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) assay. Transforming growth factor alpha gene expression was found to be high in freshly isolated OSE, but low in freshly isolated stroma. In contrast, EGFR expression was higher in the stroma compared to the OSE. Both the ICC and QRT-PCR indicate that normal OSE express high levels of TGFa in vivo and in vitro. In vitro, normal ovarian stromal cells develop the capacity to express high levels of EGFR. Human ovarian tumors from stage II, stage III, and stage IV ovarian cancer cases were found to express TGFa and EGFR protein in the epithelial cell component of the tumor by ICC analysis. The stromal cell component of human ovarian tumors contained little or no TGFa/EGFR immunostaining. Observations suggest that tumor progression may in part require autocrine stimulation of the epithelia. Transforming growth factor alpha was found to stimulate the growth of normal bovine OSE and stroma cells to the same level as epidermal growth factor. Two ovarian cancer cell lines, SKOV3 and OCC1, were also stimulated to proliferate in response to TGFa. Transforming growth factor alpha was also found to stimulate the expression of two growth factors previously shown to be produced by OSE. Transforming growth factor alpha stimulates both kit ligand/stem cell factor and keratinocyte growth factor production by OSE. The effect of hormones on TGFa and EGFR expression by the OSE was also examined. Human chorionic gonadotropin stimulated TGFa expression, but not FSH. Both hCG and FSH stimulated EGFR expression by OSE. Combined observations suggest a role of systemic hormones and a locally produced growth factor, TGFa, in OSE biology. Insight is also provided into how the OSE may develop abnormal growth char1This work was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health to M.K.S. and a National Cancer Institute Ovarian Cancer Program Project Grant.
The clinical and economic implications of pharmacogenomics

The rapid advance of the Human Genome Project and the development of new genetic analysis technologies promise to bring a new era of genomics to medicine. Among the applications of genetics to medicine, pharmacogenomics will likely be one of the first tangible benefits from the Human Genome Project. It has been suggested that the use of pharmacogenomics will be widespread and lead to lower health care costs, but there has been little outcomes research on pharmacogenomics. The objective of this article is to present a cost-effectiveness framework for evaluating the incremental clinical and economic benefits of pharmacogenomic-based therapies, apply this framework to noted pharmacogenomic examples, and evaluate the potential impact of pharmacogenomics on research and development in the pharmaceutical industry and the delivery of health care. The use of pharmacogenomics to individualize drug therapy will offer clinical and economic benefits. However, these benefits must be weighed against the additional cost of genotyping all patients in order to adjust the therapy in a few. Our analysis suggests that pharmacogenomics will likely be cost-effective only for certain combinations of disease, drug, gene, and test characteristics, and that the cost-effectiveness of pharmacogenomic-based therapies needs to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Cost-effectiveness analysis can help scientists, clinicians, and decision makers invest in technologies and develop drug utilization guidelines that will benefit patients in an economically viable fashion. Keywords: pharmacogenomics; pharmacogenetics; economics; cost; cost-effectiveness; outcomes research
Physics-based Tests to Identify the Accuracy of Solar Wind Ion Measurements: A Case Study with the Wind Faraday Cups

We present techniques for comparing measurements of velocity, temperature, and density with constraints imposed by the plasma physics of magnetized bi-Maxwellian ions. Deviations from these physics-based constraints are interpreted as arising from measurement errors. Two million ion spectra from the Solar Wind Experiment Faraday Cup instruments on the Wind spacecraft are used as a case study. The accuracy of velocity measurements is determined by the fact that differential flow between hydrogen and helium should be aligned with the ambient magnetic field. Modeling the breakdown of field alignment suggests velocity uncertainties are less than 0.16% in magnitude and 3deg in direction. Temperature uncertainty is found by examining the distribution of observed temperature anisotropies in high-beta solar wind intervals where the firehose, mirror, and cyclotron microinstabilities should drive the distribution to isotropy. The presence of a finite anisotropy at high beta suggests overall temperature uncertainties of 8%. Hydrogen and helium number densities are compared with the electron density inferred from observations of the local electron plasma frequency as a function of solar wind speed and year. We find that after accounting for the contribution of minor ions, the results are consistent with a systematic offset between the two instruments of 34%. The temperature and density methods are sensitive to non-Maxwellian features such as heat flux and proton beams and as a result are more suited to slow solar wind where these features are rare. These procedures are of general use in identifying the accuracy of observations from any solar wind ion instrument.
Electromagnetic Radiation in Accelerator Physics

This article reviews some fundamental concepts and presents several recent techniques used for calculation of radiation in various environments. They include properties of longitudinal and transverse formation lengths of radiation, usage of the parabolic equation and the Kirchhoff diffraction integral in radiation, coherent radiation and fluctuations in the beam, and the radiative reaction force resulting from coherent radiation.
Degradation of transparent conductive oxides: Interfacial engineering and mechanistic insights

Abstract Transparent conductive oxides (TCOs) are a known failure mode in a variety of thin film photovoltaic (PV) devices, through mechanisms such as resistivity increase and delamination. Degradation science studies of these materials, as well as most PV systems, have primarily utilized industry standard qualification protocols, which are not designed to be used as lifetime prediction tests. This work applies a data science approach to this engineering challenge, utilizing commercially available TCOs and subjecting them to an array of stressors, including environmental and material stressors. Optical, electrical and surface sensitive TCO property metrics were monitored and analyzed en mass. Different degradation mechanisms and modes were observed when different stressor combinations were applied; TCO surfaces are sensitive to the proportion of water and light in an exposure, yellowing of the TCO only occurs when humidity and UV light are combined, and PEDOT:PSS (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate)) application results in hazing and roughening of aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO). Using multi-variate analytics and plotting critical material properties against one another in a mechanistic plot, trade-offs between properties and the activation of different degradation mechanisms become readily apparent. In addition to a survey of failure modes of TCOs, a possible solution to the degradation of AZO was examined: the application of an organofunctional silane layer. The application of a thin APTES (3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane) film nearly eliminated the observed edge effects and greatly reduced the resistivity increase caused by damp heat exposure of AZO.
Rapid development of characters in FPS/3PS games using visually-specified behavior-based control

First/third-person simulations in virtual environments have become increasingly used in training; however, creating intelligent, interactive characters to populate these environments presents a large authorial burden. Our work focuses on building tools to enable rapid creation of intelligent characters for first/third-person game-like environments with no programming knowledge required by the user. This is made possible using behavior-based control combined with a user interface employing natural languagelike character specification in the form of English sentences and interactive testing during development.
Women's age at first marriage and postmarital agency in Egypt

Early - or child - marriage (before age 18) may diminish women's ability to exercise agency, or their capacity to act upon their goals. Using a propensity score adjustment approach, we analyzed data from 2394 married women ages 35-49 years who participated in the 2006 Egypt Labor Market Panel Survey (ELMPS). We examined whether women's first marriage at age 18 or older was associated with their post-marital agency, measured in terms of their influence in family decisions, freedom of movement in public spaces, and unfavorable views about intimate partner violence against wives. In bivariate analyses, women's age at first marriage was positively associated with their decision-making and more equitable gender attitudes. However, once we controlled for selection into age-at-first-marriage groups, there were no significant differences between the two age-at-first-marriage groups in any dimension of women's agency. We examined the sensitivity of the non-significant age-at-first-marriage effects to possible violations of the strong ignorability assumption and the results did not alter our conclusions. The assumption that women's age at first marriage is a proxy for their post-marital agency, as defined here, warrants further study.Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Language: en
Learning to modulate the partial powers of a single sEMG power spectrum through a novel human-computer interface.

New human-computer interfaces that use bioelectrical signals as input are allowing study of the flexibility of the human neuromuscular system. We have developed a myoelectric human-computer interface which enables users to navigate a cursor to targets through manipulations of partial powers within a single surface electromyography (sEMG) signal. Users obtain two-dimensional control through simultaneous adjustments of powers in two frequency bands within the sEMG spectrum, creating power profiles corresponding to cursor positions. It is unlikely that these types of bioelectrical manipulations are required during routine muscle contractions. Here, we formally establish the neuromuscular ability to voluntarily modulate single-site sEMG power profiles in a group of naive subjects under restricted and controlled conditions using a wrist muscle. All subjects used the same pre-selected frequency bands for control and underwent the same training, allowing a description of the average learning progress throughout eight sessions. We show that subjects steadily increased target hit rates from 48% to 71% and exhibited greater control of the cursor's trajectories following practice. Our results point towards an adaptable neuromuscular skill, which may allow humans to utilize single muscle sites as limited general-purpose signal generators. Ultimately, the goal is to translate this neuromuscular ability to practical interfaces for the disabled by using a spared muscle to control external machines.
Accrued Interest On Bonds: An Explanation Based On Brokers Preference For Clean Price Data With A Critique Of Intermediate Accounting Textbook Explanations

By convention U.S. bond markets announce the actual price of a bond as the sum the quoted price plus accrued interest. The economic meaning of accrued interest and its role in this price announcing convention is generally misunderstood by accounting textbook authors who mistakenly provide accrued interest with both an economic and administrative explanation. A cogent rationale for the broker price announcing convention is offered which places accrued interest in its proper context. Explanations of accrued interest found in a sample of intermediate accounting textbooks are also critiqued. The concept of negative accrued interest is also briefly discussed.
Bonner, John Tyler. Cells and Societies. Princeton University Press, 234 p., 46 figs., 8 plates, 1955, Price $4.50

John Tyler Bonner Cells and Societies. Princeton University Press, 234 p., 46 figs., 8 plates, 1955, Price $4.50. The purpose of this book is by no means apparent. It gives a hasty survey of some social …
Does oral buffered sodium supplementation reduce nausea and vomiting during an ultramarathon

This work examines whether nausea or vomiting during an ultramarathon are due to a fluid or electrolyte imbalance, and if these symptoms can be reduced through the use of buffered sodium supplements. Starters (n = 376) of a 161.3-km ultramarathon underwent body weight measurements, 74.5% completed a post-race questionnaire, and 53.0% also underwent a post-race blood draw. The incidence of nausea or vomiting progressively increased during the race, and affected 60% of runners overall. Weight change and rate of sodium intake in supplements or in buffered sodium supplements did not differ between those with and without nausea or vomiting. Post-race serum sodium concentration also did not differ between those with and without symptoms in the last race segment. We conclude that weight change, the rate of sodium intake in supplements or in buffered sodium supplements, and serum sodium concentration are not related to symptoms of nausea or vomiting during a 161-km ultramarathon.
Sum zero (mod n ), size n subsets of integers

(1989). Sum Zero (mod n), Size n Subsets of Integers. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 96, No. 3, pp. 240-242.
The Role of Agricultural Technology in Southern Social Change

IN DISCUSSING the role of agricultural technology in Southern social change, we need first of all to recall that cotton and tobacco, the farmels main sources of cash in the South, are two of the least mechanized crops in the Nation. Hand labor plays the major part in both of them. Axes, mattocks, hoes and simple oneand twohorse plows are standard equipment. The typical tobacco farmer uses no implements or tools more complicated than a mercury thermometer and the one-row fertilizer distributor-and much fertilizer is still put in the row by hand. The cotton farmer's implements have been a one-horse seed planter, a one-horse fertilizer distributor, and scales to "weigh up" the cotton at picking time in the fall. Sugar cane, too, has traditionally been planted and harvested by hand operations. Cotton gins, cotton oil mills, textile mills, tobacco factories, and sugar cane mills have always looked like projections of another kind of world into the southern countryside, and that is exactly what they are. The mechanization of cotton ginning, spinning, and weaving got under way in the early 1800's; the manufacture of sugar from cane juice was already well established; and over half a century ago the manufacture of chewing and smoking tobacco was becoming big business. We need then, first of all, in thinking about the social effects of current technological development in southern agriculture to make certain that we understand our base lines-namely, the production in the field by hand methods of crops which have for many decades now been processed upon leaving the farmer by big machines and mass production methods, which are in harmony with the rest of the national economy. No farm machinery or techniques are in sight to do more than merely reduce the hand labor in tobacco growing, but the outlook for mechanization in the cotton and sugar cane crops is another matter. The tendency of farmers to produce these crops by the traditional hand methods will be offset in considerable part by the immmediate economic advantages in the use of machines. More tractors are being purchased. The mechanical cotton picker is now in an advanced stage of development, and some of these machines are already in use in the Mississippi Delta. The use of the mechanical cane cutters has been increasing and seems likely to spread further. The gains in mechanization thus promised may go far toward solving some of the South's old economic and social problems. And as a part of the process they would create some very important new problems.
Analysis on death features of malignant tumor patients in Wenzhou City(2009)

Objective To understand the death features of malignant tumor patients in Wenzhou and provide basis for intervention. Methods Based on the surveillance data of malignant death cause among residents of Wenzhou in 2006,the death cause was classified according to the standard and requirement of ICD-10. Results 4338 residents died of malignant tumor(59.11/100 000) in 2006.Liver cancer,lung cancer and stomach cancer,were the first three in the death list of malignant tumor.The proportion of the top three deaths of malignant tumor was 63.64% in the total deaths of malignant tumor. Conclusions Malignant tumor is the first death cause in Wenzhou city;liver cancer leads the death list of malignant tumor.The intervention and control of malignant tumor should be the priority and great efforts should be made.
Pastoral Care and Counseling with Military Families

The complex human experience of military service and the stress suffered by millions of military families each time a loved one deploys present unique challenges and opportunities in providing pastoral care and counseling. War and military service impact many facets of our society, as well as generational and interpersonal relationships. This article speaks to both academic and practitioner communities, and provides a vision for effective pastoral care and counseling with military families drawing on resources from family systems theory.
Bioaerosols in the environment: Populations, measurement and processes

Biological aerosols can be comprised of bacteria, fungal spores, hyphae pollen, algae, proteins, viruses and fragments of the above. They can have wide-ranging impacts from human disease and allergies to potential impacts on the water cycle by acting as cloud condensation or ice nuclei. Characterization of these populations is desirable to understand which species are important to the variety of impacts. Efforts to characterize these populations of biological particles have used methods such as culture, characterization of nucleic acids and proteins and real-time methods using spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. All characterization methods have limitations and complications that must be considered. Biological particles in the atmosphere can be changed by atmospheric chemical processes in ways that affect their measurement by all the above methods and can affect their viability. The roles of biological aerosols, particularly bacteria, viruses and fungi, in the atmosphere and how they are measured are discussed.
Observations and modeling of fjord sedimentation during the 30 year retreat of Columbia Glacier, AK

To explore links between glacier dynamics, sediment yields and the accumulation of glacial sediments in a temperate setting, we use extensive glaciological observations for Columbia Glacier, Alaska, and new oceanographic data from the fjord exposed during its retreat. High-resolution seismic data indicate that 3.2 × 108 m3 of sediment has accumulated in Columbia Fjord over the past three decades, which corresponds to ~5 mm a−1 of erosion averaged over the glaciated area. We develop a general model to infer the sediment-flux history from the glacier that is compatible with the observed retreat history, and the thickness and architecture of the fjord sediment deposits. Results reveal a fivefold increase in sediment flux from 1997 to 2000, which is not correlated with concurrent changes in ice flux or retreat rate. We suggest the flux increase resulted from an increase in the sediment transport capacity of the subglacial hydraulic system due to the retreat-related steepening of the glacier surface over a known subglacial deep basin. Because variations in subglacial sediment storage can impact glacial sediment flux, in addition to changes in climate, erosion rate and glacier dynamics, the interpretation of climatic changes based on the sediment record is more complex than generally assumed.
Hypervitaminosis A unmasked by acute viral hepatitis.

Abstract A case of acute hypervitaminosis A complicating viral hepatitis is reported. Twenty days after presenting with hepatitis B, a 42-yr-old vegetarian developed acute hypervitaminosis A in the absence of recent, massive exposure to the vitamin. Findings included headache, confusion, skin desquamation, and hypercalcemia. Prior to developing hepatitis, he had ingested supplemental vitamin A without recognized ill effect. Liver and serum vitamin A levels were both elevated; the liver biopsy showed abundant, lipid-filled Ito cells and perisinusoidal fibrosis. This case demonstrates that patients with excessive hepatic stores of vitamin A may develop hypervitaminosis A during acute, intercurrent liver disease. Levels of retinol binding protein are reduced in hepatitis. This phenomenon may account for the findings in this case, since vitamin A is more toxic when not specifically bound to retinol binding protein. The size of the population at risk for this complication of hepatitis is unknown, but presumably it is growing with the widespread use of supplemental vitamin A.
Environmental injustice and flood risk: a conceptual model and case comparison of metropolitan Miami and Houston, USA

This article outlines a conceptual model and comparatively applies it to results from environmental justice (EJ) studies of flood risk in the Miami, Florida, and Houston, Texas, metropolitan areas. In contrast to most EJ studies of air pollution, which have found that socially-vulnerable groups experience disproportionate risk, distributive EJ studies of flooding reveal inconsistent findings regarding the relationship between social vulnerability and flood exposure. Counterintuitively (from a conventional EJ perspective), some pre-flood EJ studies have found that socially-advantaged people experience the highest residential exposure to flood risks. To integrate those anomalous findings within an EJ perspective, our conceptual model focuses on (1) the differential capacities of social groups to deploy/access protective resources for reducing the threat of loss, even while they reside amid flood-prone environments, and (2) both flood hazards and water-based benefits. Application of this model in Miami reveals that environmental injustices materialize as socially-privileged groups expose themselves to residential flood risks by seeking coastal amenities, as the costs of mitigating risks are conveyed to the broader public; in the process, socially-vulnerable residents are relegated to areas with air pollution and/or inland flood risks, where they experience constrained access to protective resources and coastal amenities. Findings from Houston better align with conventional EJ expectations-with flood zones disproportionately inhabited by socially-vulnerable people-because many coastal lands there are used by petrochemical industries, which produce major residential-environmental disamenities. Results underscore the need to consider protective resources and locational benefits in future empirical research on the EJ implications of flood hazards.