cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Thermal Stability of Cu-Based SOFC Anodes by Electrodeposition of Cr

The electrodeposition of Cr onto Cu-based, solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) electrodes was investigated. Cu-ceria-YSZ (yttria-stabilized zirconia) electrodes were prepared by impregnation of porous YSZ with aqueous solutions of Cu(NO 3 ) 2 and Ce(NO 3 ) 3 and modified by the addition of a Cr layer onto the Cu. The addition of Cr had no effect on anode performance at 973 K in humidified H 2 but significantly improved the thermal stability. Without Cr, scanning electron microscopy showed structural changes in the Cu films after heating to 1173 K, resulting in increased ohmic resistances in impedance spectra. The addition of Cr increased thermal stability so that the anodes were unaffected by heating to 1173 K in dry H 2 . Some oxidation of Cr was observed by X-ray diffraction following exposure of the composite to 80% H 2 -20% H 2 O mixtures at 973 K for 20 h, but partial oxidation of Cr did not affect the thermal stability of the anode. Exposure of the composite to 80% H 2 -20% H 2 O mixtures at 1173 K for 20 h resulted in complete oxidation of the Cr and a loss of enhanced thermal stability. Attempts to prevent Cr oxidation by the electrodeposition of Cu onto the Cr were unsuccessful. Based on these results, strategies for enhancing the stability of Cu-based anodes are discussed.
Human detection and motion analysis at security points

This paper presents a real-time video surveillance system for the recognition of specific human activities. Specifically, the proposed automatic motion analysis is used as an on-line alarm system to detect abnormal situations in a campus environment. A smart multi-camera system developed at Princeton University is extended for use in smart environments in which the camera detects the presence of multiple persons as well as their gestures and their interaction in real-time.
Effect of Polarization Switch upon Stress in Thickness Vibration of a Ferroelectric Plate

The commonly encountered operational failure of ferroelectric actuators is the so-called electric fatigue resulting from stress-induced microcracks developed during polarization switch. This article presents a stress analysis for thickness vibration of a ferroelectric plate under cyclic electric loading programs with or without polarization switch. It concludes that polarization switch results in stresses of frequency close to the resonance, independent of the frequency of the applied electric field, and of a substantially large amplitude in comparison with stresses generated in the absence of polarization switch.
Reading Art: Multiliteracies and History Education

AbstractThis is an exploration of the value added to secondary history education through the inclusion of visual art from a multiliterate framework instead of an aesthetics one. Semiotic theory and Panofskian art history analysis are discussed. Multiliteracies theory posits that art is text, similar to print text. By reading art for historical understanding and subsequently utilizing historical thinking, critical thinking and cultural awareness skills are developed.
Phanerozoic atmospheric reconstructions: a terrestrial perspective

Abstract The Paleozoic stands out in geochemical reconstructions as a time of unusually high organic carbon burial and disturbed O2 and CO2 regimes. The anomaly is apparently of terrestrial origin. Evidence and explanations for reconstructed trends are sought in the terrestrial record. The correspondence between reconstructed O2 and fusinite abundance in coal, a possible proxy for charcoal formation and fire activity, is ambiguous due to problems of data quality and interpretation. Patterns in Silurian, Devonian, and Carboniferous plant evolution are consistent with stress imposed by progressive CO2 starvation followed by leveling out, as predicted in reconstructions. I hypothesize that the Paleozoic disturbance was caused by bottlenecks in the cycling of lignin and other refractory compounds synthesized by land plants, and that these bottlenecks were eventually reduced by the evolution of more effective decomposer organisms and/or reduction of the refractory fraction in land plant biomass.
Birth order rank as a moderator of the relation between behavior problems among children with an autism spectrum disorder and their siblings

Variability within the literature investigating typically-developing siblings of children with an autism spectrum disorder suggests that the quality of sibling outcomes may depend on specific factors. For this study, 42 parents of a child with an autism spectrum disorder and a typically- developing sibling provided data via online questionnaires. Birth order rank of the child with an autism spectrum disorder significantly moderated the relation between externalizing behaviors in children with an autism spectrum disorder and externalizing behaviors in their typically-developing siblings. Children with an autism spectrum disorder and higher levels of behavior problems had typically-developing siblings with higher levels of behavior problems only when the child with an autism spectrum disorder was older. These results provide a hint of clarification about the complex nature of sibling relations, but a great deal more research is needed to further examine outcomes of typically-developing siblings of children ...
I-5/Gilman advanced technology bridge project

The UCSD led I-5/Gilman Advanced Technology Bridge Project will design and construct a fully functional traffic bridge of advanced composite materials across Interstate 5 in La Jolla, California. Its objective is to demonstrate the use of advanced composite technologies developed by the aerospace industry in commercial applications to increase the life expectancy of new structures and for the rehabilitation of aging infrastructure components. The structure will be a 450 ft long, 60 ft wide cable-stayed bridge supported by a 150 ft A-frame pylon with two vehicular lanes, two bicycle lanes, pedestrian walkways and utility tunnels. The longitudinal girders and pylon will be carbon fiber shells filled with concrete. The transverse deck system will consist of hollow glass/carbon hybrid tubes and a polypropylene fiber reinforced concrete deck with an arch action. Selected cables will be composite. The bridge's structural behavior will be monitored to determine how advanced composite materials perform in civil infrastructure applications. The bridge will be instrumented to obtain performance and structural health data in real time and, where possible, in a remote fashion. The sensors applied to the bridge will include electrical resistance strain gages, fiberoptic Bragg gratings and accelerometers.
Interferon treatment of chronic active hepatitis C during therapy of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Due to concerns that antineoplastic therapy produces prolonged decrease in immune function, interferon treatment of chronic active hepatitis C (CAHC) has been used only at one year or longer after the end of cancer therapy. We report the experience of an 11-year-old who developed symptomatic CAHC at the start of maintenance therapy for testicular relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Significant dose reduction of maintenance therapy did not improve the tolerance of antileukemic treatment. In an effort to improve his liver disease and to deliver effective antileukemic therapy, interferon alpha and an alternative maintenance therapy regimen for ALL were initiated. The patient tolerated the combined therapy well. Interferon therapy was continued for 27 months, which was three months from the end of antineoplastic therapy. At that time serum transaminase values were normal, and no HCV viral genome was detectable. Viral genome was detected 10 months later. The combined effects of interferon and antineoplastic therapy resulted in myelosuppression requiring dose reduction of both treatments. The patient remains asymptomatic and with no evidence of recurrent leukemia more than six years from diagnosis of relapse. The effect on the status of this patient's CAHC was similar to that reported among leukemic patients who underwent an interferon course more than one year from the end of antineoplastic therapy. Interferon treatment of CAHC can be given concomitantly with antineoplastic therapy. Am. J. Hematol. 61:130–134, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Epigenetic programming of porcine endometrial function and the lactocrine hypothesis.

Contents Epigenetic programs controlling development of the female reproductive tract (FRT) are influenced by the effects of naturally occurring bioactive agents on patterns of gene expression in FRT tissues during organizationally critical periods of foetal and perinatal life. Aberrations in such important cellular and molecular events, as may occur with exposure to natural or manmade steroid or peptide receptor-modulating agents, disrupt the developmental program and can change the developmental trajectory of FRT tissues, including the endometrium, with lasting consequences. In the pig, as in other mammals, maternal programming of FRT development begins pre-natally and is completed post-natally, when maternal effects on development can be communicated via signals transmitted in milk. Studies involving relaxin (RLX), a prototypic milk-borne morphoregulatory factor (MbF), serve as the basis for ongoing efforts to identify maternal programming events that affect uterine and cervical tissues in the neonatal pig. Data support the lactocrine hypothesis for delivery of MbFs to neonates as a specific consequence of nursing. Components of a maternally driven lactocrine mechanism for RLX-mediated signalling in neonatal FRT tissues, including evidence that milk-borne RLX is delivered into the neonatal circulation where it can act on RLX receptor (RXFP1) -positive neonatal tissues to affect their development, are in place in the pig. The fact that all newborn mammals drink milk extends the timeframe of maternal influence on neonatal development across many species. Thus, lactocrine transmission of milk-borne developmental signals is an element of the maternal epigenetic programming equation that deserves further study.
Budgets are Moral Documents: Hunger, Money, and Community

: This article seeks a path for Christian social teaching and advocacy to address concern for how the money we budget nationally truly serves the common good. The status of hunger and food security, global and local, is a good barometer for the wellbeing of the human community. The Bread for the World Institute Report and its updates on the progress of the Millennium Development Goals is an excellent resource for tracking food security and for guiding active Christian concern for connecting money and the common good, a concern grounded in eucharistic fellowship and trinitarian faith.
Relationship between acute toxicity and in vitro inhibition and hydrolysis of a series of carbalkoxy homologs of malathion

A series of carbalkoxy homologs of malathion and malaoxon was prepared in which the dicarbalkoxy groups were varied from methyl to butyl. The acute oral toxicities of these compounds were determined using male Wistar rats, and it was found that the toxicities decreased with an increase in chain length. Inhibiting carboxylesterase in vivo with tri-o-tolyl phosphate (TOCP) demonstrated that both the malathion and malaoxon homologs were substrates for carboxylesterase, and that carboxylesterase was important in the detoxication of both malathion and malaoxon. In vitro studies with rat liver carboxylesterase and the malathion homologs as substrates showed that the Km values decreased with an increase in chain length, whereas the Vmax values increased with an increase in chain length. The in vitro findings indicated that the carboxylesterase had the greatest hydrolytic activity toward the carb-n-butoxy group of malathion followed by n-propyl, ethyl, isopropyl, and methyl homologs. The inhibition studies showed the bimolecular rate constant to decrease with an increase in chain length with erythrocyte cholinesterase and a reverse trend with carboxylesterase and serum cholinesterase. The in vivo toxicity was found to correlate with the in vitro enzymatic detoxication and inhibition patterns.
Physics of a Recombining Helium Plasma

The model proposed by Manalis to account for electron-ion recombination is claimed to be incorrect. (auth)
Tumor Recurrence Is Independent of Pancreatic Fistula in Patients after Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Background Recurrence of pancreatic adenocarcinoma after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) can be increased in patients with pancreatic fistula (PF). The purpose of our study was to determine if a relationship exists between PF and tumor recurrence (both peritoneal and local) in patients after PD for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Study Design A single-institution, retrospective analysis of 221 patients who underwent PD from January 2001 to December 2009 was conducted. Electronic charts and medical records were queried for tumor characteristics, recurrence, and complications. Presence and grading of PF was determined using the criteria of the International Study Group on Pancreatic Fistula. Data were analyzed using chi-square and Kaplan-Meier survival statistics. Results There were 114 male and 107 female patients. Mean age was 66 years (range 35 to 91 years). The vast majority (84%) of patients had stage II disease; 143 (65%) had positive lymph nodes (median 2 positive nodes; range 1 to 17 positive nodes). Pancreatic fistula developed in 23 patients (grade A, n = 9; grade B, n = 13; grade C, n = 1; 10.2%). Peritoneal recurrence was noted in 20 patients (9%). Of the 23 patients with PF, peritoneal recurrence developed in 3 (13%). Of the 198 patients without PF, peritoneal recurrence developed in 17 (10%). Local recurrence occurred in 47 patients (21%), 5 (2%) in patients with PF and 42 (21%) in those without PF (p = NS). In Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, there was no significant difference in recurrence-free survival (p = 0.4) and overall survival (p = 0.3) for those with PF vs those without PF. Conclusions Patients with PF after PD were not found to have a significant increase in local or peritoneal recurrence. Therefore, in this analysis, postoperative PF does not appear to serve as an adverse prognostic marker.
Physical Characterization of Calf Thymus Nucleohistone

WE have characterized calf thymus nucleohistone, prepared by modified Huiscamp1 methods, by observation of its sedimentation velocity, sedimentation equilibrium, diffusion, viscosity and electrophoresis. Between pH 5·2 and pH 9·0 in buffers containing 5 per cent sodium chloride it is monodisperse, and close to p H 10·4 is irreversibly transformed into a homogeneous material having a smaller sedimentation constant than the original nucleohistone. In these buffers, the reciprocals of the sedimentation constants of the nucleohistone and its transformation product are linear functions of the protein concentration, and the limiting values of the sedimentation constants for zero protein concentration have been found.
Scenes of violence and sex in recent award-winning LGBT-themed young adult novels and the ideologies they offer their readers

ABSTRACTThis study examines LGBT-inclusive and queering discourses in five recent award-winning LGBT-themed young adult books. The analysis brought scenes of violence and sex/love scenes to the fore. Violent scenes offered readers messages that LGBT people are either the victims of violence-fueled hatred and fear, or, in some cases, showed a gay person asserting agency by imposing violence on a violent homophobe. In contrast, sex and/or love scenes offered readers more nuanced messages about LGBT people. In some sex/love scenes, LGBT people are isolated by homophobia, internalized, or otherwise. In others, though, LGBT people are able to connect better with those who love them as a result of their unlearning or removal of transphobia and/or homophobia. If books with scenes of violence and sex/love are prohibited, then messages about how people connect to and distance themselves from one another by knowing and loving themselves are lost. We argue that teachers and librarians must understand the discourses ...
Effects of Route of Administration and Dietary Hemoglobin on the Liver Mitochondrial a-Glycerophosphate Dehydrogenase Response to Various Thyroxine Analogs

The rat liver a-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) response to thyroid hormone was used to assay the relative activities of several thyroxine analogs which were either injected or fed to rats receiving a purified diet ±10% hemoglobin (Hb). Both the route of administration and the presence of the antithyrotoxic substance (Hb) in the diet markedly affected the relative activity values. For example, triac and triprop were more active when fed in either the basal or Hb diets than when injected into animals receiving the same diets, whereas the converse was found for T4 and T3. Because of this divergence, triac was as active as T3 when both analogs were fed in the basal diet. Although dietary Hb inhibited the activity of all analogs, it inhibited certain ones more than others. For example, the activity of T4 fed in the Hb diet was only 6% of that fed in the basal diet, whereas the activities of oral T3 and triac were reduced to 30 and 64percnt;, respectively, by the addition of Hb to the diet. The maximum GP...
History lessons for today's housing policy: the politics of low-income housing

History offers valuable lessons to housing policymakers. For those who would devise new low-income housing programs during today's trying economic circumstances, it is helpful to study the strategies that succeeded in achieving low-income housing programs in past difficult times. This article, History Lessons for Today's Housing Policy, examines the political processes that led to the adoption of new low-income housing policies during four political crises. The four crises were the Great Depression of the 1930s, the post-World War II housing shortage, the urban crisis of the 1960s, and the policy crisis of the 1970s. Among other history lessons, the article reveals that well-organized political support, especially from large institutions, is crucial to achieving distinctly different new programs; that decentralized programs are more politically resilient than centralized programs; that programs that appeal to the nation's broad middle-class are most popular; and that policy research is valuable but that p...
PSYCHOLOGICAL OPPORTUNITIES AND HAZARDS IN PREDICTIVE GENETIC TESTING FOR CANCER RISK

Although the availability of genetic tests seems like an unequivocally favorable turn of events, they are, in fact, not without controversy. At the center of the controversy is a question regarding the risks and benefits of genetic testing. Many geneticists, ethicists, psychologists, and persons at risk for cancer are concerned about the potentially adverse psychological effects of genetic testing on tested persons and their families. In addition, the screening and interventions that are useful in the general population remain to be shown effective in those with high genetic cancer risk. Consequently, there have been calls for caution in moving genetic testing out of research laboratories and into commercial laboratories until their impact and the effectiveness of cancer prevention strategies can be studied. This article examines the arguments and data for and against this caution, citing examples related to hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer and drawing upon literature on testing for other genetic diseases.
Functional analysis of cis-linked regulatory sequences in the HLA DRA promoter by transcription in vitro

Two consensus sequences, called X and Y boxes, capable of binding nuclear proteins and regulating expression in B cells have been defined within the immediate upstream region of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II promoters. Unlike other class II promoters, the HLA-DR alpha (DRA) promoter also contains one element identical to the "octamer" motif of immunoglobulin variable region promoters that is responsible for B cell-specific transcription. This "octamer" in the context of DRA appears capable of binding both the ubiquitous (OTF-1) and lymphoid-specific (OTF-2) "octamer" binding proteins, but at least one other distinct "octamer" complex was found. In order to characterize the function of cis-acting elements, we have developed an in vitro system in which a DRA promoter construct is transcribed more efficiently in extracts from B cells than in extracts from class II-negative HeLa cells. 5' deletion constructs which lacked the Y box, but retained the "octamer" motif and TATA box were completely inactive, and internal deletion of the Y box reduced transcription by 95%. Using supercoiled, but not linear templates, we observed differences in transcription efficiencies from templates lacking or disrupting the X consensus element that reflect effects of random replacement of X box sequences in transient expression assays. Demonstration of the complete dependence on the Y box in this system suggests that, despite its demonstrated importance in the DRA promoter, the DRA "octamer" does not utilize OTF-2 in a manner analogous to immunoglobulin promoters in B cells.
Sorption of copper on lake monona sediments—effect of nta on copper release from sediments

Abstract A study has been conducted on the magnitude and mechanism of cupric binding to Lake Monona, Madison, Wisconsin, sediments. The binding capacity, which is the ability of the sediment to hold the copper, was found to be proportional to the carbonate content of the sediments. The addition of nitrilotriacetic acid to these sediments results in a release of iron and manganese and a reduction in the amount of copper present in solution.
Northern root-knot nematode populations and soil temperature effect on alfalfa.

(...)Meloidogyne hapla-susceptible Ranger' alfalfa was 100% susceptible to all M. hapla populations, while M. hapla-resistant Nevada Synthetic XX (Nev Syn XX) germplasm differed in the percentage of plants susceptible to California 1, California 2, Utah, Nevada and Wyoming populations. Ranger was 100% susceptible to all populations at soil temperatures of 15 to 30 °C. The Nev Syn XX was 100% susceptible to CA1 at all temperatures, but differed in the percentage of susceptibility to the other populations at temperatures of 20 to 30 °C (...)
Single correlation for theoretical contact melting results in various geometries

Abstract The melting rates due to close-contact heating of a block of phase-change material have been analyzed in the past based on thin-film lubrication theory in several internal and external configurations. The scale analysis of close-contact melting in a region of general shape shows that the melting rate in all configurations is anticipated by the expression in which V is the speed with which the solid advances into the melting front (the melting rate), ϱ / ϱ s is the liquid/solid density ratio, Ste is the Stefan number for liquid superheating (Ste >>1), and α and υ are the viscosity and the t hermal diffusivity of the liquid phase. The film exess pressure scale Δ is defined as the net weight of the object surrounded by liquid divided by the horizontal projected area of that object. The flow length scale of liquid film, l, stands for the diameter of the cylinder or the sphere, or the smaller of the two sides of the rectangular shape of the contact area during melting against a flat heater.
Codeposition of SiO2/GeO2 during production of optical fiber preforms by modified chemical vapor deposition

Abstract A theoretical study of simultaneous chemistry, heat and mass transfer during the so-called multicomponent modified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD) process for fabrication of lightguide preforms is presented. Codeposition of SiO 2 and GeO 2 is examined since theseare the dominant species of lightguides for telecommunications. The full Navier-Stokes equations for this process are solved, including continuity, momentum, energy and mass balances for gases and SiO 2 and GeO 2 particles. The GeCl 4 conversion and deposition efficiency decrease as inlet SiCl 4 concentration increases. At high overall gas flow rates through the prrform tube and low inlet SiCl 4 concentrations, the GeCl 4 yield is limited by GeCl 4 conversion while at low gas flow rates of high inlet SiCl 4 concentrations, the GeCl 4 yield is limited by particle transport.
Time series model for texture synthesis

A general method is proposed for the synthesis of texture. It is based on a model which treats the pixels (picture elements) of a digitized textural scene as a two-way seasonal time series. This method possesses the desirable characteristic that the parameters needed for synthesis are derived directly from the analysis of the “parent” texture (texture to be imitated). With the help of well-developed methods in the time series analysis the process that generates the pixels of the parent texture is identified. From a set of boundary conditions the future values of the time series are generated which in essence are the pixels of the synthesised texture. The effectiveness of this method is illustrated with examples.
Alignment of four-mirror wide field corrector for the Hobby-Eberly Telescope

The Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) Wide Field Corrector (WFC) is a four-mirror optical system which corrects for aberrations from the 10-m segmented spherical primary mirror. The WFC mirror alignments must meet particularly tight tolerances for the system to meet performance requirements. The system uses 1-m class highly aspheric mirrors, which precludes conventional alignment methods. For the WFC system alignment a “center reference fixture” has been used as the reference for each mirror’s vertex and optical axis. The center reference fixtures have both a CGH and sphere mounted retroreflector (SMR) nests. The CGH is aligned to the mirror’s optical axis to provide a reference for mirror decenter and tilt. The vertex of each mirror is registered to the SMR nests on the center reference fixtures using a laser tracker. The spacing between the mirror vertices is measured during the system alignment using these SMR nest locations to determine the vertex locations. In this paper we present the procedures and results from creating and characterizing these center reference fixtures. As a verification of our alignment methods we also present results from their application in the WFC system alignment are also presented.
Nocturic frequency is related to severity of obstructive sleep apnea, improves with continuous positive airways treatment.

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between nocturia and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and the effect of continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) therapy on nocturic frequency. Study design This was a retrospective review of sleep studies including patients with and without evidence of OSA, before and during CPAP treatment (where relevant). Chi-squared tests compared nocturia prevalence according to sleep diagnosis, logistic regression determined predictors of nocturia, and regression analyses determined predictors of nocturic frequency. Results In 196 eligible studies, predictors of nocturia included increasing age and diabetes mellitus; nocturia was equally likely to occur in patients with and without OSA. In patients with OSA and nocturia, nocturic frequency was related to age, diabetes, and severity of OSA ( P P Conclusion OSA severity predicts nocturic frequency. The role of testing in the triage of patients with nocturia remains to be determined.
PMD compensation in multilevel coded-modulation schemes with coherent detection using BLAST algorithm and iterative polarization cancellation.

We present two PMD compensation schemes suitable for use in multilevel (M≥2) block-coded modulation schemes with coherent detection. The first scheme is based on a BLAST-type polarization-interference cancellation scheme, and the second scheme is based on iterative polarization cancellation. Both schemes use the LDPC codes as channel codes. The proposed PMD compensations schemes are evaluated by employing coded-OFDM and coherent detection. When used in combination with girth-10 LDPC codes those schemes outperform polarization-time coding based OFDM by 1 dB at BER of 10-9, and provide two times higher spectral efficiency. The proposed schemes perform comparable and are able to compensate even 1200 ps of differential group delay with negligible penalty.
Rolling back to BOULE.

The presence of a dedicated germline, a population of cells that give rise exclusively to gametes, is a unique feature of animal development. Despite variation in the timing of germ cell determination (1, 2) and in the details of lineage and migration by which they populate the gonad, numerous germline genes are conserved across the bilaterian phyla. It is therefore likely that biologists of today are studying variations on a theme first played by a common ancestor of the protostomes and deuterostomes, roughly 600 million years ago (3). In this issue of PNAS , Xu et al. (4) provide further support for deep conservation of germline function with their discovery in mammals of a homologue of another invertebrate gene encoding the RNA-binding protein Boule (5, 6). For some time, however, researchers had believed that they already had the mammalian boule homologues in the Y-linked gene DAZ (deleted in Azoospermia), only in humans and old world monkeys (7–9), and its autosomal ancestor, DAZL (DAZ-like, also known as DAZH; refs. 10–12). The work of Xu et al. suggests that DAZL and DAZ are in fact the divergent products of two nested gene-duplication events, and that the slower evolving progenitor, BOULE, remains a distinct gene in mammals.
A Mesh-Based Geometric Modeling Method for General Structures

This paper presents a mesh-based geometric modeling method to create tessellated models of general structures, which can be the design results of conformal truss structure design, thermal design, topology design, material design, compliant mechanism design and others. A general structure configuration design format is proposed to describe the structures. A universal structure generating system is developed based on the mesh-based geometric modeling method. Besides generating a watertight surface model for an input structure configuration, the modeling approach can automatically add an important design feature, fillets, in the generated model. Therefore the structures’ mechanical performance is improved comparing to results generated by other methods. Examples from different structure design areas are presented. The validity of the generated models is verified by using an additive manufacturing system. The computational efficiency of the method is also discussed.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Formation of Personal HIV Disclosure Policies among HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men

Abstract Given the increasing emphasis on “prevention with positives” programs designed to promote HIV transmission risk reduction among people living with HIV/AIDS, better understanding of influences upon serostatus disclosure in sexual situations is needed. Based on grounded theory analyses of individual interviews, this exploratory research hypothesizes and interprets how 15 HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) formed personal HIV disclosure policies for sexual situations. Participants described five elements influencing development of their personal policies, including: (1) making sense of having been infected, (2) envisioning sex as an HIV-positive man, (3) sorting through feelings of responsibility for others, (4) responding to views of friends and the gay community, and (5) anticipating reactions and consequences of disclosure. The article concludes with implications for current initiatives for prevention with positives.
Minimum variances estimation of coefficient matrices in a dependent system

SUMMARY Minimum variance coefficient matrices are derived for a linear combination of vectorvalued sets of data possessing dependent vector components and information sources. The covariance matrix for the difference between this and any other, similarly restricted, linear combination and the minimum variance combination is shown to be positive semi-definite.
Aminopeptidase activity in the hemolymph and body tissues of the pulmonate gastropod Biomphalaria glabrata

Abstract The levels of aminopeptidase activity in the whole hemolymph, serum, hemocytes, headfoot, and visceral mass of Biomphalaria glabrata were determined. The highest enzyme level occurs in the serum and the lowest in the hemocytes. Both the headfoot and visceral mass include subequal levels of aminopeptidase activity. From our data, it now appears possible that the serum aminopeptidase in B. glabrata , which has an open circulatory system, could have originated in hemocytes as well as in other tissues. The biologic function of serum aminopeptides is uncertain; however, because of the known chemical function of this enzyme, it could serve to degrade foreign proteins in serum prior to phagocytosis.
Seasonal Space Use and Habitat Selection of Adult Raccoons (Procyon Lotor) in a Louisiana Bottomland Hardwood Forest

Abstract Raccoon ecology is poorly understood in bottomland hardwood systems, despite the fact that bottomland forests are considered high-quality raccoon habitat. We radio-marked 41 raccoons during 2008–2009 and estimated seasonal space use and habitat selection in a bottomland hardwood forest located within the Atchafalaya floodway system in Louisiana. Space use varied seasonally, with home ranges and core areas largest during the breeding season. Forest openings were important when configuring seasonal home ranges, whereas habitat selection within home ranges varied seasonally. The composition of habitats within core use areas was similar to that of home ranges. We concluded that home range size was influenced by reproductive behaviors and seasonal food availability, whereas habitat selection was most influenced by spatio-temporal changes in seasonal food abundance. Raccoons used all available habitat types and landscape heterogeneity is likely important to raccoons when establishing home ranges in bot...
Abstract B30: Increasing awareness of health research in the African American community

Results from health research studies are important for evaluating, preventing and treating various diseases. African Americans are an underrepresented group in clinical trials and blood donations. Utilizing a gene pool that encompasses a range of affected individuals is instrumental in widening our knowledge of diseases because there are racial differences in some cancers such as those of the breast, ovary, and prostate. Thus, African American participation will aid in experimental design of clinical trials. A lack of trust plays a role in African American underrepresentation. Previous studies suggest researchers can begin to build trust by acknowledging the medical abuses of the past, discussing protection of participants, and explaining the need for minority participation. A major goal of this study is to increase the education and awareness of the black community because of the need for African American participation in health research studies and blood donations. The SEA program is designed to do this by surveying individuals on their current perceptions of health research, educating them on medical abuses of the past, and calling the community to action. The first component includes administering anonymous surveys to aid in the understanding of current perceptions of health research at Coppin State University (CSU) which has a black population of over 95%. The second component consists of educational seminars that focus on presenting the history of blacks and their negative (such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study) and positive experiences with health research. The third component is a call to action that includes having the opportunity to donate blood or volunteering to educate others. Results show that 29.9% have donated blood and 31.3% are organ donors. 11.6% know of someone in a health study and 43.7% have heard of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. Concerning interest, the numbers were similar for those that were interested in donating blood and or participating in a health study. The numbers are 54.9% and 53.7%, respectively. 56% said they would participate in a health study if proper monetary compensation was provided. Areas of the second step, education, have also been implemented via professors and other knowledgeable speakers addressing the issues before students. The third area, action, is taking place through regularly scheduled American Red Cross blood drives. In conclusion, the SEA program has made an impact on the CSU community in that several individuals that have attended the seminars and participated in the survey have a better knowledge of previous health research studies and are in a position to make better decisions about donating blood and entering into clinical trials. Future avenues include enlarging the sample size and comparing findings at CSU with other minority and majority communities to obtain an overall view of ways to educate the public about the need for clinical trial participation and blood and organ donation. Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2010;19(10 Suppl):B30.
The Subject-Item Interaction in Itemmetric Research

In their investigation of the relationship between item properties and test quality, itemmetricians rely too heavily upon inference about the nature of the subject-item interaction. Itemmetric research can be improved by employing data, specifying variables, and selecting an order of data analysis which are more directly related to this interaction. Some predicted relationships among certain item characteristics, response processes, instability of response, and nearness of subject and item on a trait continuum are used to compare the traditional and proposed approaches. Stronger relationships and clearer interpretations arise from the proposed approach.
Some models of observer behavior in two-channel auditory signal detection

Five models of 0 behavior in a two-channel exclusive-or (XOR) detection task were evaluated. The models included two types of single-channel and three types of two-channel O. Only the most efficient two-channel model adequately described human performance in a set of monaural and dichotic XOR conditions. Detectability measures derived from the XOR task matched those obtained from separate single-channel control conditions. We concluded that. in this two-channel task. the O’s performance was not limited by any inability to monitor signals arriving simultaneousl.v in two different earphone or two different frequency channels. The implications of this result for two-channel information processing and for multicomponent and sequential signal detectmn are discussed.
L'urbanisation a-t-elle changé les caractéristiques des débits écologiques dans le Maine (USA)?

Abstract This paper examines the potential effects of urbanization on streamflow in Maine, USA, from 1950 to 2000. The study contrasts nine watersheds in southern Maine, which has seen steady urban growth over the study period, with nine rural watersheds from northern Maine. Historical population data and current land cover data are used to develop an urbanization score for each watershed. Trends in watershed urbanization over the study period are compared to trends in ecologically relevant streamflow characteristics. The results indicate that trends in northern, rural watersheds are much more consistent than the trends in the southern watersheds. Additionally, trends in the southern watersheds are inconsistent with the hydrological characteristics observed in urban watersheds elsewhere, likely due to the comparatively low level of current urban development in Maine's urban watersheds. Our study suggests that urban areas in Maine have not yet reached an urbanization threshold where streamflow impacts beco...
An intrinsic tonoplast protein of protein storage vacuoles in seeds is structurally related to a bacterial solute transporter (GIpF).

The tonoplast mediates the transport of various ions and metabolites between the vacuole and cytosol by mechanisms that remain to be elucidated at the molecular level. The primary structure of only one tonoplast protein, the H(+)-ATPase, has been reported to date. Here we report the primary structure of tonoplast intrinsic protein (TIP), a 27-kilodalton intrinsic membrane protein that occurs widely in the tonoplasts of the protein storage vacuoles (protein bodies) of seeds [Johnson, K.D., et al. (1989). Plant Physiol. 91, 1006-1013]. Hydropathy plots and secondary structure analysis of the polypeptide predict six membrane-spanning domains connected by short loops and hydrophilic, cytoplasmically oriented N- and C-terminal regions. TIP displays significant homology with several other membrane proteins from diverse sources: major intrinsic polypeptide from bovine lens fiber plasma membrane; NOD 26, a peribacteroid membrane protein in the nitrogen-fixing root nodules of soybean; and interestingly, GIpF, the glycerol facilitator transport protein in the cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia coli. Based on the homology between TIP and GIpF and the knowledge that the protein storage vacuolar membrane and the peribacteroid membrane are active in solute transport, we propose that TIP transports small metabolites between the storage vacuoles and cytoplasm of seed storage tissues.
The Case for Dreaming Big

The American educational system is no fairy tale. Students who think that it takes nothing more than a wish upon a star to make their educational dreams come true are sure to be disappointed. We agree with Professor Rosenbaum: In order to realize their educational dreams, students must invest considerable effort. Indeed, we believe so strongly in the central role of effort in the status attainment process that we made it—not test scores or cognitive ability or any other familiar educational construct—the central dependent vari able in our analyses. Rather than encouraging fairy-tale dreaming, our article asks, Does the college-for-all ethos harm American high school students by encouraging them to engage in fairy tale dreaming? Rosenbaum argues that it does; our analyses suggest that it does not. Figures 1 and 2 provide a simple summary of Rosenbaum's argument regarding the consequen ces of the college-for-all ethos for the school effort of high school students in the "forgotten half." Rosenbaum argues that college for all has boosted students' college expectations without improving their access to quality information about what it takes to succeed in college. In other words, Rosenbaum argues that college for all moves students in the "forgotten half' from the "low expectations; low information" cell in Figure 1 to the "high expectations; low informa tion" cell. Furthermore, Rosenbaum contends that the college-for-all ethos reduces high school students' interest in and awareness of the sub-bac
Synchronization and spatial signature estimation for multiple known co-channel signals

This paper considers the problem of how to establish synchronization with and determine the spatial signature of multiple co-channel signals with known waveforms. Asymptotically optimal algorithms an developed for both the case when all transmitted signals an identical (the overlapping echo problem), and where they are all distinct. The issue of solution uniqueness is also addressed, and in particular an upper bound on the number of signals whose parameters may be uniquely identified is derived. Typically, the bound is far greater than the number of sensors, and is limited only by the number of data samples collected.
Life-Cycle Evaluation of Flexible Pavement Preventive Maintenance

This study investigates the cost effectiveness of various levels of life-cycle preventive maintenance (PM) for three asphaltic concrete pavement functional class families. For each family, the effectiveness and cost associated with each of several alternative life-cycle PM strategies were estimated. For each strategy, effectiveness was estimated as the increase in service life relative to a base-case strategy, and the cost was estimated in terms of agency and user costs associated with the treatments comprising that strategy. Using the estimated costs and effectiveness, statistical models were developed to describe the relationship between life-cycle PM effort and its efficacy in extending the pavement life, per unit cost. It is shown that increasing PM is generally associated with increasing cost effectiveness (but only up to a certain turning point beyond which cost effectiveness decreases). It was determined that the maximum cost effectiveness and the corresponding level of annualized PM are influenced by the pavement functional class and cost components considered. A general methodology is hereby provided for pavement managers to estimate the expected changes in pavement service life arising from changes in PM expenditure.
A Diabetes Report Card for the United States: Quality of Care in the 1990s

Results: 18.0% of participants (95% CI, 15.7% to 22.3%) had poor glycemic control (hemoglobin A 1c level > 9.5%), and 65.7% (CI, 62.0% to 69.4%) had blood pressure less than 140/90 mm Hg. Cholesterol was monitored biannually in 85.3% (CI, 83.1% to 88.6%) of participants, but only 42.0% (CI, 34.9% to 49.1%) had LDL cholesterol levels less than 3.4 mmol/L (<130 mg/dL). During the previous year, 63.3% (CI, 59.6% to 67.0%) had a dilated eye examination and 54.8% (CI, 51.3% to 58.3%) had a foot examination. When researchers controlled for age, sex, ethnicity, education, health insurance, insulin use, and duration of diabetes, insured persons were more likely than uninsured persons to have a dilated eye examination (66.5% [CI, 62.6% to 70.4%]) vs. 43.2% [CI, 29.5% to 56.9%]) and were less likely to have a hemoglobin A1c level greater than or equal to 9.5%. Persons taking insulin were more likely than those who were not to have annual dilated eye examination (72.2% [CI, 66.3% to 78.1%] vs. 57.6% [CI, 53.7% to 61.5%]) and foot examination (67.3% [CI, 61.4% to 73.2%] vs. 47.1% [CI, 43.2% to 51.0%]) but were also more likely to have poor glycemic control (24.2% [CI, 18.3% to 30.1%] vs. 15.5% [CI, 11.6% to 19.4%]). Conclusions: According to U.S. data collected during 1988– 1995, a gap exists between recommended diabetes care and the care patients actually receive. These data offer a benchmark for monitoring changes in diabetes care.
Can Agricultural Labour Adjustment Occur Primarily through Creation of Rural Non-farm Jobs in China?

If China's rural families are to participate fully in the future economic growth there must be a large reduction in the number of farm workers. In order to accommodate the reduction needed over the next three decades, there will need to be 12-15 million new non-farm jobs created every year. Township and village enterprises have provided roughly 100 million new jobs since 1985, but in recent years there has been little increase in such jobs. One problem is that these enterprises are very small-industrial enterprises average about 11 workers. As the Chinese economy becomes more competitive, such small enterprises have had increasing difficulty in maintaining employment, let alone providing millions of new jobs each year. Where can the new jobs be provided? Due to continuing restrictions on migration, it is unlikely that many will become available in cities. An alternative is proposed, namely to promote the development of enterprises in one or two towns or small cities in each county. The worker could then c...