cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapid characterization of lipids by MALDI MS. Part 2: Artifacts, ion suppression, and TLC MALDI imaging

Several new methods have been developed recently that allow the direct detection of lipids without resorting to derivatization or chromatographic separation. The simplest of these is direct MALDI (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization) mass spectrometry. This approach is most useful for mixtures that contain minimal amounts of ion-suppressing interfering components. However, when such components are present, their effects can often be minimized by using simple separation techniques beforehand, such as solid phase extraction or thin layer chromatography. For example, direct MALDI has been used for rapid screening of lipids and taxonomic identification of the source organisms with no sample pretreatment. Collecting fractions from solid phase extraction cartridges have also been used to avoid the most extreme effects of ion suppression from more complex lipid mixtures. More recently, direct MALDI has been applied to the analysis of TLC plates allowing the detection of TLC-separated lipids from the complex lipidome. Herein, we briefly describe the application of rapid MALDI MS to some typical research problems involving the characterization of lipids. In Part 1 [1] we covered bacterial taxonomy by direct analysis of intact lipids and the analysis of food oil triacylglycerols . Part 2 will address ion suppression, spontaneous fragmentation, and coupling MALDI with chromatography. The spontaneous fragmentation of protonated lipids in oils by direct MALDI produces artifactual diacylglycerol-like ions. An understanding of this process and its minimization facilitates monitoring the decomposition of lipids by direct analysis. Suppression also has an impact on direct analysis of lipids, especially when mixtures contain both polar and non-polar lipids. We demonstrate the use of solid phase extraction and thin layer chromatography to produce fractions or substrates from complex biological samples in which lipids can be detected by direct and rapid MALDI MS analysis.
A Regional Assessment of Residual Oil Zones in the Permian Basin and Their Potential for Carbon Dioxide Capture Usage and Storage

Abstract Residual Oil Zones (ROZs) are a growing subject of interest both as a potentially large new energy resource and an opportunity for Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS). Defined here as thick volumes of rock containing near- residual saturations of predominantly immobile oil resulting from the natural imbibition of water into an oil-filled reservoir, ROZs by nature can only be commercially produced via tertiary recovery techniques – primarily CO 2 enhanced oil recovery. This study focuses on ROZs in Permian Basin from a regional perspective to provide independent analysis on the potential of ROZs as a CCUS target in the study area. Based on an understanding of Permian Basin ROZs were likely formed by regional hydrodynamic forces, this study identifies crude oil sulfur content as a viable proxy for ROZ presence. Mapping and interpolation of crude oil sulfur content reveals a broad stratigraphic and spatial distribution of potential ROZ existence across the Permian Basin. These results support the position that ROZs present large targets for CCUS activity in the Permian Basin and may be prevalent in hydrocarbon basins worldwide with similarly dynamic fluid migration histories.
On the Chemistry of Liberty

This essay is an autoethnographic attempt to bring together personal experiences, memories, and historical accounts about the Soviet occupation of Lithuania in 1944 and the overthrow of the regime by the nationalist movement in 1990. It weaves together visions, recollections, and stories in search for how such abstract notions as freedom, progress, and democracy intersect with "small lives." Its central concern is to understand why social movements, state institutions, and new technologies grow to reproduce social inequalities and, by doing so, fail in their promise to bring freedom to the general population. This essay arrives at the conclusion that there is no universal definition of liberty nor a single institutional means to free the public. It places the agency in the hands of the individual and argues that freedom as such exists only when we negotiate, search, and believe in the possibility for a better world.
Shadow Wages and Peasant Family Labour Supply: An Econometric Application to the Peruvian Sierra

A striking feature of developing economies is the large proportion of the work force that is self employed. Lack of widespread labor market participation in the agricultural sector can pose a major obstacle to the empirical implementation of economic models of the peasant household, whether because wage data are simply not available, or because the assumptions required to make use of wage data stretch the bounds of credulity. This paper develops a methodology for estimating a structural labor supply model for primarily self employed peasant households, which holds under a general agricultural technology and set of labor market conditions. The unique feature of the approach is that the opportunity cost of time, or shadow wage, of household workers is explicitly estimated from an agricultural production function and is subsequently used to identify a set of structural labor supply parameters. Recent household survey data from rural Peru is employed to estimate and perform various diagnostic tests on the model. The empirical findings lend support to the hypothesis that peasant households allocate their members' time as if to maximize a family utility function, and moreover, demonstrate the tractability of the shadow wage methodology and its usefulness in estimating more elaborate time allocation models.
Predicting corner crack fatigue propagation from cold worked holes

Abstract We predict the fatigue propagation of corner cracks from cold worked holes using three dimensional finite element models. The models account for the through thickness variation in residual stress left after cold working. The predictions are compared to experimental results in aluminum 2024-T351 and 7075-T651. The models show the evolution of P-shaped crack fronts similar to those observed in experiments. Predictions based on the initial residual stress field left after cold working were nonconservative, predicting either slower than experimental crack growth or crack growth that arrests. Predictions based on an estimate of the stable relaxed residual stress field near the hole were conservative, and predicted 5–10 times greater life than the current Department of Defense reduced initial flaw size approach.
Gender and racial disparities in the management of diabetes mellitus among Medicare patients.

Background: Racial/ethnic disparities in diabetes care have been demonstrated in several settings, but few studies have evaluated whether racial/ethnic differences vary by gender. The objective of this study is to understand gender and racial effects on diabetes care for Medicare managed care beneficiaries. Methods: Using data from: (1) Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®); (2) Medicare Enrollment Files; and (3) U.S. Census, hierarchical generalized linear analyses were conducted to model the six HEDIS comprehensive diabetes care quality indicators, including processes of care and intermediate outcome measures, as a function of gender and race/ethnicity. Results: Women were more likely to have received HbA1c screening or eye examination, but less likely to have LDL control at <100 mg/dL, compared to men. Racial disparities favored whites in five measures, where African Americans were less likely to have received HbA1c screening, eye examination, cholesterol screening, or achieve adequate HbA1ccontrol or LDL control at<100 mg/dL. Enrollees in managed care plans where African Americans constituted more than 20% of their insured population tended to have lower likelihood of meeting the HbA1c screening, HbA1c control, and eye examination measures. Conclusions and Discussion: Gender and racial disparities in performance indicators were present among persons enrolled in Medicare managed care. White women were more likely to have met the performance measures related to process of care, but African Americans fared worse in both process of care and intermediate health outcome measures, compared to their white counterparts. Poor performance in cholesterol control observed in women of both races suggests the possibility of less intensive cholesterol treatment in women. The differences in the pattern of care demonstrate the need for interventions tailored to address gender and race/ethnicity.
Simulation of borehole-eccentered triaxial induction measurements using a Fourier hp finite-element method

ABSTRACTWe developed a numerical method for accurate simulation of triaxial induction measurements in the presence of borehole-eccentered logging instruments. This 3D simulation method combines a Fourier series expansion in a new system of coordinates with a 2D, goal-oriented, high-order, and self-adaptive hp finite-element refinement strategy. The resulting numerical scheme provides accurate and reliable simulations of triaxial induction measurements while reducing the computational complexity of conventional 3D problems. We employed this method to quantify effects of borehole-eccentered triaxial tools fabricated with conductive and resistive mandrels. Numerical experiments indicate that a conductive mandrel can mitigate borehole-eccentered effects on horizontal magnetic field measurements to a level below 25%, which contrast those observed in the presence of resistive mandrels, in which measurements can differ by more than 100% depending solely upon the borehole-eccentered distance. When the mandrel and...
Inferring coverage probabilities by optimum 3-stage sampling

Reliability assessment is an important step in the development of fault-tolerant computing systems. Availability, MTTF, and, in general, any reliability measure is determined by the system ability to handle faults and errors and the rate of occurrence of these events. A special parameter, the coverage probability, provides information about the effectiveness of the fault tolerance mechanisms embedded into the system. Practically, physical or simulated fault injection experiments are conducted for evaluating the coverage. Unfortunately, the extremely large number of events which can perturb the operation of a computing system makes exhaustive testing intractable. As a consequence, statistical inference has been employed to derive meaningful results after performing a relatively small number of fault injection experiments. This paper presents a new method for inferring the coverage probability by means of optimum 3-stage sampling. A three-dimensional space of events is considered. It is represented by the cross product of system inputs, times of injection, and fault locations. The fault injection consists of a pilot experiment followed by the main injection experiment. The sample size of the main experiment is chosen to minimize the cost of the fault injection for a fixed value of the variance. This approach is used for estimating the coverage probability of a hypothetical fault-tolerant system. Based on our experiments, we conclude that the optimum 3-stage sampling method is especially useful when a low variance of the coverage probability is required.
Age related rejoining of broken chromosomes in human leukocytes following x-irradiation

Abstract One theory of aging is that the ability to repair DNA or chromosome damage decreases with age. This study made use of a method which allows the measurement of chromatid repair in interphase nuclei, the technique of premature chromosome condensation. The number of excess chromosome fragments per cell remaining after 24 h of incubation at 37°C was determined and used as a measure of the ability of leukocytes to repair. The leukocytes from male donors of several ages were used and the cells from older donors showed greater residual damage and, therefore, less repair.
Large area integration of embedded high power RF amplifiers in a thin organic panel

The advent of highly efficient wide band-gap Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs) allows for low cost packaging of amplifiers with antennas in a single multi-layer panel. This paper reports on the design, fabrication, and measurement of a panelized Transmit/Receive (T/R) array designed for a Digital Array Radar (DAR) at 3.3 GHz. This panel uses simplified plastic packaging for high performance Gallium Nitride (GaN) amplifiers to remove heat in a very simple and effective manner. This integration approach is shown to keep the high power amplifiers cool enough to maintain optimal performance and transmit an instantaneous power of over 25 watts per element.
Impact of anaerobic growth conditions on toxic shock syndrome toxin-i production by Staphylococcus aureus.

Objective:The impact ofanaerobic growth conditions on the Staphylococcus aureus toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) production was studied. Methods: Ten strains of S. aureus derived from patients with toxic shock syndrome (TSS), 10 isolates of S. aureus, and documented TSST-1-producing strains recovered from patients with either staphylococcal septicemia or staphylococcal nongenital abscesses were grown under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.The bacterialgrowthwas measured using optical density(OD) determinations at 520 nm. The toxin production was assayed using the TS-RPLA latex agglutination test. Results: BothTSS and non-TSS strains ofS. aureusgrown under aerobic and anaerobic conditions exhibited comparableOD patterns ofgrowth, and the levels of toxin production remained constant during the logarithmic phase. Toxin titers developed during the logarithmic grovvth phase and peaked after 24 h of incubation. When stationary-phase isolates grown initially under aerobic conditions were subjected to strict anaerobic conditions, subsequent toxin titers, compared with isolates grown in the continued presence of oxygen, were depressed 2-fold, peaking at a later time. Conclusions: TSST-1 production is diminished under continued anaerobic conditions. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Case Report: The Prone Reduction of a Sacroiliac Disruption with a Pelvic C-clamp

The pelvic C-clamp traditionally is reserved for the temporizing stabilization of posterior ring injuries and reportedly has assisted in closed reduction of sacroiliac diastases, for patients who are in the supine position. We report a patient with a severely displaced Zone II sacral fracture and associated acetabular fracture who initially underwent fixation of the acetabulum in the prone position. By using the pelvic C-clamp as a tool for successfully reducing the sacrum, definitive closed fixation of the pelvic wing subsequently was performed without having to reposition the patient. In this case report, we review the literature on this device and for alternative reduction maneuvers for disrupted sacral injuries. The C-clamp may be a useful adjunct in select cases to facilitate closed reduction of sacral or sacroiliac joint disruptions, as may particularly apply in cases of severe displacement or when a reduction is hampered by obesity.
The Christianization of the Slavs: Two Recent Books

One of the most persistent themes in the history of Christianity has been mission and expansion. Indeed from New Testament times onward, writers and historians have frequently seen this as one of the most significant features of the faith. It has even provided some with the conceptual framework for a whole lifetime of labor. (I think particularly in this regard of the distinguished career of the late Kenneth Scott Latourette, memoriae cuius hanc recencionem dedico). In this history of territorial growth, the process by which the peoples of central and eastern Europe were Christianized has long been recognized as part of what Philip Schaff once called "the great work of the Christian church from the sixth to the tenth century." But because of the cultural predominance of the RomanoGermanic traditions in European civilization and because of the heuristic problems posed by the several languages of the region, the Christianization of the Slavs and their neighbors has until recently been a tale told only in fragments. This situation was greatly ameliorated by the publication of the brief summary by G. Stokl, Geschichte der Slavenmission in the cooperative Die Kirche in ihrer Geschichte, 2, E (G6ttingen, 1961) and the more extensive P. Duthilleul, L'Evangelisation des slaves (Paris, 1963). Now we have been given, almost simultaneously, two large, brilliantly executed books which provide authoritative narrations and analyses: Francis Dvornik has summed up a lifetime of work in Byzantine Missions Among the Slavs, SS. Constantine-Cyril and Methodius. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1970. xviii 4484 pp. $17.50; and A. P. Vlasto has auspiciously initiated a scholarly career with The Entry of the Slays into Christendom: An Introduction to the Medieval History of the Slavs. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1970. xii + 435 pp. $19.50.
PRELIMINARY STUDY ON PORTIONS OF SYSTEMS Na2O‐CaO‐AI2O3‐Fe2O3 AND Na2O‐CaO‐Fe2O3‐SiO2

Portions of the quaternary system Na2O-CaO-Al2O3-Fe2O3 have been studied by the exploration of (1) the plane CaO-4CaO.Al2O3°Fe2O3-(Na2O + 3Al2O3) and (2) planes above the base system CaO.5CaO.3Al2O3–2CaO.Fe2O3 which contain successively increasing amounts of Na2O up to 6%. A portion of the quaternary system Na2O-CaO-Fe2O3-SiO2 has been studied by the exploration of a plane containing 5% of Na2O above the base system CaO-2CaO.SiO2-CaO.Fe2O3. In the pseudosystem CaO-4CaO.Al2O3.Fe2O3-(Na2O + 3A12O3) the compound Na2O.-8CaO.3A12O8 was found to exist as a primary phase, and the area in which the plane cuts the Na2O.8CaO.3A12O3 primary-phase volume was established. Three points on uni-variant curves were located. The iron phase (4CaO.A12O3.Fe2O3 solid solution) was observed to exist in a solid-solution series. In the system Na2O-CaO-5CaO.3Al2O3--2CaO.Fe2O3 it was found that the compound Na2O.8CaO.3Al2O3 appears at an Na2O concentration of 4.2%. As soda, however, is taken into solid solution by other phases, it was not feasible at this time to determine the invariant point for Na2O.8CaO.3A12O3, 3CaO.Al2O3, 5CaO.3A12O3, and 4CaO.Al2O3.-Fe2Oa solid solution. In the system Na2O-CaO-2CaO.SiO2-CaO.Fe2O3 no ternary compounds were observed up to the 5% limit of Na2O employed. A soda-containing phase occurred in solid solution with α-2CaO.SiO2, which may precipitate on cooling, forming inclusions in the s-2CaO.SiO2, or enter into reaction with the glassy phase.
Effects of Leisure and Non-Leisure Physical Activity on Mortality in U.S. Adults over Two Decades

Purpose To estimate the effects of the components of total physical activity, leisure-time and non-leisure activity, on all-cause mortality over two decades in a large, nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. Methods We used the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I, 1971–1975) and its Epidemiologic Followup Study (NHEFS), which tracked deaths of NHANES I participants through 1992. Using multivariable Cox regression, and multiple imputation for missing values of control variables, we related baseline leisure-time and non-leisure physical activity to all-cause mortality during follow-up, controlling for other risk factors. Adults 35 through 59 years of age (N = 5884) and 60 through 74 years of age (N = 4590) were analyzed separately. Results For persons aged 35–59, moderate non-leisure activity at baseline significantly reduced mortality risk over the next two decades by about 26%, high non-leisure activity by about 37%, compared with low non-leisure activity. For persons 60–74, risk reductions were 34% and 38%, respectively. Leisure-time activity was associated with lower mortality, but was not consistently significant when both types of activity were entered in the regressions. Conclusions Over two decades, non-leisure physical activity was associated with a substantial reduction in all-cause mortality. These results contribute to a growing number of studies that support the importance of measuring all physical activity.
Redox- and pH-controlled mechanized nanoparticles

A new class of mechanized silica nanoparticles, which exploits the stability of the inclusion complexes formed between ferrocenedicarboxylic acid and both cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), are described. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles, capable of storing a payload of small molecules and releasing it following particular activation processes, have been designed and decorated with ferrocenecarboxylic acid stalks. The storage and release of the payload is controlled by the host–guest interaction between the ferrocene moiety (guest) and the ring moiety (CB7 or β-CD). Ferrocene-based Mechanized NanoParticles (FMNPs) were efficiently prepared, loaded with Rhodamine dye, and then tested under different activation procedures. The systems operated successfully under redox control (oxidation of ferrocenedicarboxylic acid) in the presence of β-CD and under pH control (deprotonation of ferrocenedicarboxylic acid pH > 4) in the presence of CB7.(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
CONCERNING THE ANTERIOR PITUITARY-GONADAL INTER-RELATIONS*

With recent progress in the field of endocrine physiology we are recognizing the existence of an extensive inter-relationship among the various endocrine glands and their hormonal products. In some instances these relations appear to be of a reciprocal nature, i.e., each of a pair of interrelated glands exerts a controlling influence on the other member of the pair. The relation between the anterior hypophysis and the gonads would appear to be of this nature, and, furthermore, evidence is at hand which indicates that this relationship is active in the control of certain other physiological activities. In this paper it is proposed, in addition to outlining the general theory, to present physiological and histological evidence of the action of the gonad hormones on the anterior hypophysis and to consider the control of certain other physiological activities. Although the earlier studies† of many others indicated the existence of a reciprocal influence between the anterior hypophysis and the gonads, Moore an...
Parallel construction of k-nearest neighbor graphs for point clouds

We present a parallel algorithm for k-nearest neighbor graph construction that uses Morton ordering. Experiments show that our approach has the following advantages over existing methods: (1) Faster construction of k-nearest neighbor graphs in practice on multi-core machines. (2) Less space usage. (3) Better cache efficiency. (4) Ability to handle large data sets. (5) Ease of parallelization and implementation.
Measurement of hydrogen peroxide and oxidant stress in a recirculating whole blood-perfused rat heart model

Abstract Aim of Study Isolated hearts used in the study of ischemia–reperfusion induced myocardial reactive oxygen species (ROS) have typically been perfused with crystalloid buffer. Limitations of crystalloid buffer which may exaggerate the production of ROS, include a requirement for higher oxygen tension and the absence of the intrinsic erythrocyte antioxidant defenses. Using a novel recirculating blood-perfused rat heart model, we measured H 2 O 2 concentration in the blood (as an indicator of ROS formation) and tissue glutathione concentration (an overall measure of oxidant stress) following ischemia and reperfusion. Methods Autologous blood was obtained and the heart isolated from pentobarbital-anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats and placed on a recirculating perfusion circuit with an in-line peristaltic pump and oxygenator. Blood temperature was maintained at 37°C. Hearts underwent normal perfusion for 120min (Sham Group, n =7) or 35min of normal perfusion, 25min of global ischemia, followed by 60min of reperfusion with baseline coronary blood flow levels (IR group, n =6). Oxygen delivery was compared with a group of buffer-perfused hearts perfused at 85mmHg. Results LV function in the sham group remained stable for 2h under normal physiologic oxygen conditions. The oxygen tension and coronary flow were significantly decreased but the myocardial oxygen delivery was significantly increased with blood perfusion compared with buffer perfusion. In the blood IR group, a significant increase in H 2 O 2 was seen early in reperfusion and a reduction in tissue GSH was noted at the end of reperfusion. Conclusion This model offers significant physiologic advantages in the study of ischemia and reperfusion, particularly in terms of oxygen delivery, compared with the more commonly used acellular buffer-perfused isolated heart systems.
DEVELOPMENT OF OPACITY IN ZIRCONIA ENAMELS

Opaque zirconia-bearing enamels are divided into two general types, namely, those whose opacity is due (1) to the undissolved residue of the zirconia added in the raw batch and (2) to the crystallization of a zirconia compound during firing. These enamels are described and illustrated. The quantity, identity, and appearance of the materials causing opacity in representative samples of each group of enamels are given.
Toxicodendron Dermatitis: Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac

Allergic contact dermatitis caused by the Toxicodendron (formerly Rhus) species—poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac—affects millions of North Americans every year. In certain outdoor occupations, for example, agriculture and forestry, as well as among many outdoor enthusiasts, Toxicodendron dermatitis presents a significant hazard. This review considers the epidemiology, identification, immunochemistry, pathophysiology, clinical features, treatment, and prevention of this common dermatologic problem. Recent research in prevention is emphasized, and resources to help in the identification of plants are provided in the bibliography. The literature was searched using a MEDLINE query for “Toxicodendron dermatitis,” and the identified article bibliographies were searched as well.
The effects of heat treatment on surface segragation in inconel 600

Inconel 600 is an important structural material and demonstrates high corrosion resistance at high temperature. Properties of Inconel 600 are effected by heat treatment. The surface composition was studied as a function of annealing temperature. Experiments also assessed the difference in surface segregation between water quenched and furnace cooled alloys annealed at 1100/sup 0/C.
Mercapturic acids: recent advances in their determination by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and their use in toxicant metabolism studies and in occupational and environmental exposure studies

This review describes recent selected HPLC/MS methods for the determination of urinary mercapturates that are useful as noninvasive biomarkers in characterizing human exposure to electrophilic industrial chemicals in occupational and environmental studies. High-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry is a sensitive and specific method for analysis of small molecules found in biological fluids. In this review, recent selected mercapturate quantification methods are summarized and specific cases are presented. The biological formation of mercapturates is introduced and their use as indicators of metabolic processing of reactive toxicants is discussed, as well as future trends and limitations in this area of research.
Population Dynamics of Waterhyacinth and the Biological Control Agent Neochetina eichhorniae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) at a Southeast Texas Location

Population dynamics of waterhyacinth, Eichhomia crassipes ((Martinus) Solms-Laubach), and a biological control agent, the weevil Neochetina eichhorniae (Warner), were quantified at a site in Wallisville, Tex., during 1987 and 1988. A decline of waterhyacinth occurred that was most pronounced during the 1988 growing season. Changes included decreases in (1) living above water biomass/m2 (≍−57%), (2) living below water biomass/m2 (≍−39%), (3) number of living leaves/plant (≍−50%), and (4) weight/plant (−40%). Associated with these decreases was a 1.5-fold increase in plant density. The waterhyacinth was severely damaged by N. eichhorniae . Highest numbers of N. eichhorniae adults (>55 weevils/m2) occurred in samples collected 15 September 1987. Decreases in the number of weevils for both sexes followed. Declines approached 8 weevils/m2 per month for the following 5 mo. Numbers of pupae per square meter decreased during 1987 by 7.3 pupae/m2 per month. Larval density increased during the winter months with highest larval density noted during December and January. This peak was followed by decreases in third instars of ≍80%. Increases in the number of adults and third instars occurred during the 1988 growing season, however, pupal density remained low (near 0) thereafter. Environmental factors that contributed to the waterhyacinth declines included a drought, nutrient conditions, intermittent freezing temperatures, as well as sustained N. eichhorniae herbivory.
Intergroup Marriage in Hawaii, 1969–1971 and 1979–1981

For residents of Hawaii during the years 1969–1971 and 1979–1981, this article investigates marriage patterns by ethnicity and level of education, using measures that control for the composition of the population. The extent of marriage between members of different ethnic groups is substantial and increasing. Intergroup marriage is not concentrated among particular ethnic groups, nor is it a characteristic of persons with either high or low levels of education. Nevertheless, Hawaii is not a society that ignores ethnicity. There is an ethnic hierarchy, with Chinese, Japanese, and Whites the more favored groups and Hawaiians and Filipinos the less favored. In marriage behavior, that hierarchy is seen in the presence of apparent exchanges between education and ethnicity, as the extent to which women “marry up” with respect to education depends upon the ethnicities of the bride and groom.
Hydrogen in Nb/Ta superlattices

The structural and thermodynamic properties of hydrogen dissolved in Nb/Ta superlattices are studied by in-situ x-ray scattering techniques. From the x-ray satellite intensities, it is found that H induces a strain modulation exhibiting a Curie-Weiss temperature dependence. The intensities are analyzed in terms of a mean field model of the modulated lattice gas, yielding quantitative information on the hydrogen-metal and hydrogen-hydrogen interaction energies. Critical behavior associated with a gas-liquid transition is also observed. Hydrogen density fluctuations with wavelengths shorter than a superlattice period are, however, suppressed by the superlattice, which represents a novel manifestation of a coherent phase transition. These experiments provide new and fundamental insight into the role of spacially varying two body interactions in critical phenomena.
Comparative fluctuation microscopy study of medium-range order in hydrogenated amorphous silicon deposited by various methods

We have characterized by fluctuation electron microscopy the medium-range order of hydrogenated amorphous silicon thin films deposited by a variety of methods. Films were deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering, hot-wire chemical vapor deposition, and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition with and without H2 dilution of the SiH4 precursor gas. All of the films show the signature of the paracrystalline structure typical of amorphous Si. There are small variations in the degree of medium-range order with deposition method and H content. The PECVD film grown with high H2 dilution contains Si crystals ∼5 nm in diameter at a density of ∼109 cm−2. The amorphous matrix surrounding these crystals shows no difference in mediumrange order from the standard PECVD film. This supports explanations of the resistance of the H-dilution material to light-induced degradation that depend only on the presence of crystalline grains without modifications of the amorphous matrix.
Expanded Workspaces of Manipulation Devices Using Friction and Dynamics

Dynamic or “nonprehensile” grasps that do not rely on a dedicated fixturing device, but instead use dynamic forces to maintain control of an object, reduce the necessary hardware complexity over traditional, “pick-and-place” robotic manipulation strategies. The full workspace of such a manipulator, however, is dependent on the history of the mechanism’s motions and can no longer be determined simply by the geometric constraints imposed by the physical dimensions and limits of the mechanism. As others have previously, we solve the dynamic equations with the imposed kinematic and force constraints, then visualize the extent of motion by observing the limiting trajectories on a phase plane. As opposed to incorporating all constraints initially, however, we examine constraints independent of others before combining. This unobscures how each constraint individually affects the total system ability and gives additional insight during the design phase of a mechanism, where a judicious choice of system parameters is needed. We then describe the utility of this constraint separation by analyzing a simple mechanism useful for lifting operations.© 2010 ASME
Density and seasonal decay trend of fly in Shaoxing city

Objective To find out the density and seasonal decay trend of fly species in Shaoxing city. Methods Baited cage trap method was used to trap flies.Results In 2003～2004,average density of fly species was 161.01 per cage.The density of fly species in new city area was higher than old city,and in 2004 it was higher than in 2003 evidently.It was observed that average density of Chrysomya megacephala,Lucilia sericata,Musca domestica,Aldrichina grahami,Lucilia illustris,Boettcherisca peregrine,Musca sorbens,Lucilia cuprina,Muscina stabulans were 92.21,17.89,16.30,8.76,8.17,5.21,4.20,3.88 and 1.21 pieces per cage respectively.The seasonal decay trend of fly species had two peaks,appearing in July and September.The average density of fly species in greenbelt,farm produce market,residential area,food industry,garbage collecting site were 320.27,164.61,125.91,112.88,111.01 pieces per cage respectively.Conclusion The density of fly species were different in different months,places and habitats.The important influencing factor were air temperature,habitat and controlling measure.
Imaging examination of 61 young children with urinary tract infection

Objective To explore the role of the imaging examination in the diagnosis and treatment of the urinary tract infection,a common infectious disease,in infants and young children.Methods The results of imaging examination were retrospectively reviewed in 61 cases with the urinary tract infection during 2008 and 2009.All 21 cases enrolled in 2008 had taken the ultrasound examination,23.8% of them had further received the examination of the dimercaptosuccinic acid scan(DMSA),and 9% of them had received the examination of micturating cystourethrography(MCU).All 40 cases enrolled in 2009 had taken both of the ultrasound examination and DMSA,72.5% of them had further taken MCU.Results Vesicoureteral Reflux(VUR)was not found in all patients in 2008,however,there would be the possibility of the missed diagnosis.Fourteen cases were diagnosed as VUR in 2009,including grade I without branch,grade II with two branches,grade III with four branches,grade IV with nine branches and grade V with six branches,respectively.High-grade VUR was predominant in all the cases.Conclusions It is necessary to undertake imaging examination for the diagnosis of the urinary tract infection in infants and young children.The ultrasound examination is the most preferable method,and DMSA may be considered as the routine examination.A further evaluation with MCU can be performed on cases with positive findings of DMSA,so that the early diagnosis of VUR and the appropriate treatment can be given for reducing the risk of kidney injury.
Maximizing pay: costs and consequences

It is surely not to be assumed without investigation or inquiry that production is a means only. … We are impelled to … to give thoughtful consideration to the possibilities of participation in economic activity as a sphere of self-expression and creative achievement . Frank Knight , The Ethics of Competition In the labor force of the mid-1980s almost everyone, except the roughly one-ninth who were either self-employed or in the agricultural sector, was an industrial or commercial employee working or seeking to work for pay. Here we examine the hypothesis that working people seek to maximize their pay. It is well known that, having other values and other considerations in mind, people who work rarely do adopt such a maximizing strategy, but it will be useful to explore the implications and limits of the pay maximization hypothesis , a hypothesis common among critics and defenders of the market alike. The hypothesis is not merely an economist's device employed for analytical purposes, for it is also a managerial belief actively guiding the government of firms. As part of the partially unconscious market ideology, the pay maximization hypothesis also affects a variety of behaviors and attitudes of which market participations are often unaware. The main reason why the pay maximization hypothesis fails is that it does not take into account the relation between an external incentive such as pay and internal rewards based on the desire for personal control and self-esteem, desires whose objects are not always served by increased pay. The desire for pay is a proxy for these other motives.
Published glioblastoma clinical trials from 1980 to 2013: Lessons from the past and for the future.

e13522Background: Recently, the NCI and industry have strongly encouraged the conduct of randomized phase II glioblastoma (GBM) trials in an attempt to reduce false positive results and prevent ine...
Fault diagnosis based on partitioned power system models

Through partition of the model of a full power transmission network, this paper resolves the complexity issue arising from using a multiple model filtering (MMF) approach to transmission short-circuit fault diagnosis. The MMF approach to power system diagnosis was recently developed to mitigate cascading failures in power systems, caused by protection misoperations, through providing decision support for protective control actions. The partition is defined by the structure of a sensor network overlaid on the transmission network to support, among many functions, fault diagnosis. The ability to diagnose faults using the MMF approach relies on the observability of independent current and voltage variables of the transmission network from time-synchronized measurement samples acquired by the sensor network. The paper shows that such observability is retained in all partitioned networks, for which the complexity of real-time computation and communication is bounded despite the size of the full network. A set of rules for partitioning is stated in graph theoretic terms. The MMF approach to diagnosis of transmission line faults is applied to the IEEE 68-bus test system and the benefit in complexity reduction through partition is quantified.
HIV Protease Inhibitors Alter Amyloid Precursor Protein Processing via β-Site Amyloid Precursor Protein Cleaving Enzyme-1 Translational Up-Regulation.

Mounting evidence implicates antiretroviral (ARV) drugs as potential contributors to the persistence and evolution of clinical and pathological presentation of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders in the post-ARV era. Based on their ability to induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in various cell types, we hypothesized that ARV-mediated ER stress in the central nervous system resulted in chronic dysregulation of the unfolded protein response and altered amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing. We used in vitro and in vivo models to show that HIV protease inhibitor (PI) class ARVs induced neuronal damage and ER stress, leading to PKR-like ER kinase–dependent phosphorylation of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α and enhanced translation of β-site APP cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE1). In addition, PIs induced β-amyloid production, indicative of increased BACE1-mediated APP processing, in rodent neuroglial cultures and human APP-expressing Chinese hamster ovary cells. Inhibition of BACE1 activity protected against neuronal damage. Finally, ARVs administered to mice and SIV-infected macaques resulted in neuronal damage and BACE1 up-regulation in the central nervous system. These findings implicate a subset of PIs as potential mediators of neurodegeneration in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.
The right questions

Robert P Crease discusses a book by a theoretical-physicist-turned-philosopher that seeks to upend some long-standing views.
Going Public: Using the Cloud to Improve Project Delivery

This research examines the relationship between proportionally higher usage of public cloud infrastructure with cost and schedule delivery variance within information technology projects of the United States government. This research demonstrates that agencies of the government that have proportionally higher levels of public cloud usage are better able to deliver projects on schedule than agencies with proportionally lower levels of public cloud usage.
Instrument Design For Sub-PPB Oxygenated Contaminants Detection in Semiconductor Processing

This paper describes a technique for measuring trace quantities of oxygen and moisture contaminants present in a semiconductor and/or containerless processing environment. Monatomic negative oxygen ions, O-, formed by electron dissociative attachment through interaction with the molecular oxygen and water, are measured to infer the presence of the contaminants. This technique exploits the fact that the cross section for the reaction is greatly enhanced at the resonant energy. The device built to demonstrate this technique combines a small gridded electron ionizer with a conventional mass spectrometer. The concentrations of oxygen have been measured using the method of standard additions by diluting O2 in N2. The lowest detection limit obtained was 1.2 kHz (O- count rate) at a concentration of 1010 corresponding to 0.1 ppb. Sensitivity calculations for detecting moisture, and electron and ion trajectory modeling using the SIMION program are presented. The detection of trace quantities of water vapor was at...
Religion, Religiosity, and Happiness

The effect of religion on happiness in the United States is examined. Particular attention is given to the direct effect of religion on attending religious services and the indirect effect on happiness. The key results include Catholic, Jewish, and no religion having negative effects on happiness relative to Protestants. Data from the National Opinion Research Center’s “General Social Survey” are used.
Folktales and Romantic Novels

As lendas sao consideradas os romances do povo e, inversamente, os romances populares seriam as lendas dos leitores comuns. Partindo de estudos formais dos contos orais e de romances populares modernos e ampliando o campo para incluir o romance antigo, este ensaio examina precisamente a concordância e a divergencia entre lenda e romance. O estudo mostra que os contos de fada e os romances populares compartilham de algumas caracteristicas, bem como divergem de modo particular. Finalmente questiona se os dois estilos caracteristicos - o tipologico e o sensato - sao absolutos ou representam apenas tendencias manifestadas por cada genero.
Sexually Transmitted Infections - Prevalence, Knowledge and Behaviours among Professional Defence Forces in Estonia: a Pilot Study.

Objectives: Our study assessed sexually transmitted infections (STI) occurrence and risk behaviours from a sample of the defence forces of Estonia. Previous research on military personnel yields various results on the prevalence of STIs and high risk behaviours. The increasing recognition of high risk behaviours among military personnel is evident given increased programmes that focus on education of drug use and risky sexual behaviours. Many militaries conduct routine, periodic screening for diseases such as HIV and viral hepatitis at entry and pre-foreign deployment. Protecting deployed forces from secondary infections is important as persons with chronic viral infections are living longer, healthier lives and are more frequently serving in military forces. Methods: A cross sectional study used convenient sampling among professional defence forces. Participation was both voluntary and anonymous. Results: Of 186 participants accounting for 7.3% of all forces (86.6% male, mean age 30 years) at selected bases, there were four cases of chlamydia. No cases of gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, or HIV were found. One person reported ever injecting drugs. Conclusions: These findings indicate a lower STI occurrence among professional defence forces in Estonia compared with the non-military population. While these rates were lower than expected, as a voluntary study, people suspicious of having an STI might opt not to participate, limiting generalizability to the remainder of the military. Militaries without regular screening programmes could consider regular scheduled testing for STIs, HIV and blood borne pathogens, even if voluntary, especially prior to foreign deployment. Consistent testing would align across many militaries who deploy international peace keepers.
VERTICAL VARIATIONS IN RESIDUAL CURRENT RESPONSE TO METEOROLOGICAL FORCING IN THE MID-CHESAPEAKE BAY

Abstract: Records of the nontidal current velocity obtained from current meters deployed for 20 days in two cross sections in Chesapeake Bay were used with an interpolation scheme to produce a vertical profile of the laterally-averaged longitudinal velocity component at one meter depth intervals at each section, at 3 h intervals over the 15 day truncated record. Various statistical procedures were used to relate variations in the residual current at each depth to wind variations. Surface layers down to about 8 m responded directly to wind with little time lag. A slope of the water surface was also set up by the wind, with a consequent barotropic pressure force directed opposite to the wind. The current near the bottom responded first to this pressure force, flowing opposite to the wind with a phase lag of about 8 h. This counter response proceeded up the water column, such that in the intermediate layers just below the pycnocline the negative response to the wind had a phase lag of about 20 h. A diagnostic analytical model, based upon a Fourier transform of the linearized equations of motion, was exercised for a four-layered simulation of the vertical response of the currents to inputs of the observed fluctuations in wind and surface slope. The major features of the time variations in the residual currents in the four layers were reproduced by the model.
Celebrating Laughter: Capturing and Sharing Tangible Representations of Laughter

We present a novel design idea to capture and preserve the laughter of ourselves, friends, and loved ones with tangible representations. With preliminary design explorations, we discuss interaction design opportunities for celebrating our positive affect through concrete reminders of our laughter.