cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Political ecologies of wood and wax: sandalwood and beeswax as symbols and shapers of customary authority in the Oecusse enclave, Timor

The enclave of Oecusse-Ambeno, Timor Leste, was formed in part through struggles over controlling trade in sandalwood and beeswax, two forest products that continue to influence political and ritual allegiances, and the political history of Oecusse. These products are interwoven with the region's contacts with outsiders, influencing local political hierarchies and roles of kings, village heads, and ritual authorities. While wood and wax are recognized to be of Timorese origin, local myths posit that their use and value was unrecognized before the arrival of Chinese traders and Portuguese missionaries. Several narratives of the origins of trade in sandalwood, and the kings' annual beeswax candle tributes, illustrate the enduring connections among local authorities, forest resource control, religious symbolism, and ritual obligations surrounding harvests of sandalwood and beeswax. Customary practices contribute to forest conservation through local protection of beeswax-producing forests, and by circumscribing the harvest. While both beehives and sandalwood impede intensive agricultural land uses, farmers welcome beeswax as a profitable product that supports ritual. But they resent sandalwood's growth in their fields since it involves more regulation and increased labor requirements. The two products' different ecologies of disturbance and incidence contributed over time to distinct ownership norms and forms of control by customary authorities. This is the "political ecology of wood and wax" in Oecusse. Key words: Oecusse, Timor Leste/East Timor, sandalwood, beeswax, customary authority, colonialism.
Emotion, politics and literary space in Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of a Fist

Abstract Sunil Yapa's Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of a Fist is a book about the redeeming power of love in political struggle, but the nature of that love as it finds congruence with the political can be read in different ways. This paper offers a reading of the text that highlights both the constructive potential and the normative trappings of love as a political principle. Ultimately I argue that all-encompassing or totalizing forms that love often takes are themselves forms of power and domination. I use Your Heart in conjunction with the theories of Sara Ahmed and Kojin Karatani to illustrate this point. This paper also contributes to discussions at a broader level of abstraction, in terms of how a book about love and politics, written by a geographer in a clearly spatial tone, intersects with the political events it describes.
Is Tax Evasion Unethical

A few years ago the Roman Catholic Church issued a revised catechism that categorizes tax evasion as a sin. Part I of this article explores the arguments that could be used to support the view that tax evasion is a sin, or is unethical. Part II presents arguments to support the position that there is nothing sinful or ethically wrong with tax evasion. The article concludes that the arguments offered to support the view that tax evasion is sinful or unethical do not hold up under analysis, and suggests that it is the tax collectors who might be guilty of sin, since they participate in the taking of property without the owner's consent.
Discussion of “On the Set Representation and the Set Covering Problem”

Murty points out that the set representation problem and the set covering problems are equivalent. A very easy way to see this is to construct a bipartite graph for each problem. For the representation problem, the nodes in one part are identified with elements of the set Γ and nodes in the other part with subsets in the class C. There exists an arc (i, j) iff element i belongs to subset c. For the covering problem, the nodes in one part are identified with subsets ξi in the class θ and nodes in the other part with elements of the underlying set. There exists an arc (i, j) iff element j belongs to subset ξi In both cases, a feasible solution (i.e., a represent or a cover) consists of a subset S of nodes in the first-mentioned part such that each node in the other part is adjacent to at least one node in S. Minimal solutions and minimum cardinality solutions have obvious interpretations.
Morphological Correlates of Catecholamine-Induced Heart Cell Damage

Catecholamine excess can lead to a spectrum of pathologic changes collectively described under the term coagulative myocy-tolysis. Baroldi (1) developed the term for this form of myocardial necrosis to emphasize the coagulative nature of the acute phase of the disease process and the myocytolytic process of the chronic phase. Similar myocardial damage has been observed in a number of human disease states (1–3) with presumably similar pathophysiology. To facilitate a better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology, this study of catecholamine-induced cardiac damage was undertaken to describe the distinctive spectrum of acute and chronic myofibrillar damage resulting from catecholamine excess, to clarify some of the confusing terminology in the literature, and to provide a detailed description of the quantitative distribution of lesions as a more precise index of heart cell damage.
Introduction: Ecosystem Governance for Conservation and Poverty Reduction

As all of the chapters throughout this volume have discussed, increasing amounts of pressure have been exerted on natural resources by a wide variety of user groups. In the absence of effective governance institutions implemented at the appropriate ecological scale, natural resources and the environment are in peril from these increasing pressures (Dietz et al. 2003). As Ostrom (2009) outlines, resource collapse is more likely in large, highly valuable, open-access systems when the resource harvesters are diverse, do not communicate, and fail to develop rules and norms for managing the resource. Establishing effective institutions and processes for managing multiple resources in such situations is often a highly complex undertaking (Wilkie et al. 2008). For example, many globally valuable natural resources, including a wide variety of flora and fauna species, fisheries, minerals, fossil fuels, timber and water are also connected to ecosystem components or functions that are critical for rural livelihoods. Managing multiple, simultaneous, and often interacting endogenous and exogenous demands on these resources can be especially challenging when tenure or resource rights are non-existent or unclear; governance structures to enforce rights or ensure equity in natural resource decision making are weak or non-existent; and/or when the extent of a resource or system transcends state or national boundaries as is often the case with fisheries or river basins, for example. This section is concerned with how some of these management challenges manifest themselves, the implications for ecosystem integrity and poverty reduction, and some of the solutions that have arisen for managing those challenges.
A “LOCAL” BASIS OF GENERALIZED SPLINES OVER RIGHT TRIANGLES DETERMINED FROM A NONUNIFORM PARTITIONING OF THE PLANE

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a “local” basis of generalized splines over right triangles determined from a nonuniform partitioning of the plane. Π is taken to be a partition of the plane into rectangles. A basis of piecewise polynomials is constructed over right triangles determined by Π having the property that corresponding to each node of Π there is one basis function. The support of each basis function is slightly less than for the corresponding bivariate B-spline thus, providing a less dense matrix when these functions are used as basis functions in the finite element method. The linear space T k π generated by these basis functions contains all polynomials of degree less than k.
Parent-child communication surrounding genetic testing for Li-Fraumeni syndrome: Living under the cloud of cancer.

Background Advances in the application of genetic technologies reveal a growing number of heritable disorders associated with an increased risk to develop cancer during childhood. As genetic testing is increasingly employed in the clinical setting, it is essential to understand whether parents communicate with their children about test results and to elucidate the factors that influence the content and outcomes of these conversations. Methods Semistructured interviews were conducted with 14 parents whose children tested positive for Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS). Semantic content analysis was performed on transcribed interviews, focusing on questions related to parent-child conversations about the genetic testing process and disclosure of positive test results. Results All parents emphasized the importance of involving children in conversations about LFS. The majority (93%) identified as being part of "cancer families" in which prior experiences with cancer created opportunities for communication. While all had spoken with their children about cancer, only seven (50%) specifically disclosed to their children that they had tested positive for LFS. The most common reason cited for nondisclosure at the time of this study was the young age of the children. Conclusion Parents of children with LFS desire open conversations about genetic testing and cancer risk. These conversations are challenging yet essential to enable child understanding of genetic risk status and enhance compliance with health-promoting and cancer surveillance measures. Development of age-appropriate educational materials and novel clinical models to facilitate parent-child conversations about genetic test results and risk status for cancer are needed.
Strengths-Based Analysis of Student Success in Online Courses

Online courses today give a broad, diverse population access to higher education. Despite postsecondary institutions embracing this opportunity, scholarly literature reveals persistent concern over low retention rates in online courses. In response to this concern, an explanatory sequential, mixed methods study was conducted in three phases at a public research university to simultaneously explore personal, circumstantial, and course variables associated with student success from a strengths-based perspective. Existing data on student enrollments across four years were analyzed. A subset of Phase One students from a single semester were invited in the second phase to complete an assessment of non-cognitive attributes and personal perceptions, followed in the third phase by interviews among a stratified sample of successful students from the previous phase to elaborate on factors impacting their success. Quantitative analyses identified seven individual variables with statistical and practical significance for online student success. Interestingly, the combination of factors classified as predictive of success changed with student academic standing. The impact of differential success factors across academic experience may explain mixed results in previous studies. The themes that emerged from the interviews with students were congruent with quantitative findings. A unique perspective was shared when students discussed “teaching themselves,” providing additional insight into perceptions of teaching presence not formerly understood. The combination of a more contextual research approach, a strengths-based perspective, and insights from student perceptions yielded implications for educational practice.
Treating PTSD: A Review of Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Interventions

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic, often debilitating mental health disorder that may develop after a traumatic life event. Fortunately, effective psychological treatments for PTSD exist. In 2017, the Veterans Health Administration and Department of Defense (VA/DoD) and the American Psychological Association (APA) each published treatment guidelines for PTSD, which are a set of recommendations for providers who treat individuals with PTSD. The purpose of the current review article is to briefly review the methodology used in each set of 2017 guidelines and then discuss the psychological treatments of PTSD for adults that were strongly recommended by both sets of guidelines. Both guidelines strongly recommended use of Prolonged Exposure (PE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Each of these treatments has a large evidence base and is trauma-focused, which means they directly address memories of the traumatic event or thoughts and feelings related to the traumatic event. Finally, we will discuss implications and future directions.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Association Between Adverse Childhood Experience, Perceived Discrimination and Body Mass Index in a National Sample of U.S. Older Adults.

The current study evaluated whether there were racial/ethnic differences in the association between childhood adverse experience (ACEs), perceived racial discrimination (PRD), and body mass index (...
Recent progress on in situ characterizations of electrochemically intercalated transition metal dichalcogenides

Layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have been extensively studied owing to their unique physical and chemical properties. Weak van der Waals (vdW) interactions between the stacking layers of TMDCs allow intercalation of various species including monovalent alkali, divalent alkaline earth and multivalent metal ions, zero-valent transition metals, as well as organic molecules, all of which can drastically alter fundamental properties of the TMDCs. The urge to understand the phenomena and the desire to exploit them for applications have inspired a great deal of investigations. A large portion of the mystery has been unveiled over the past decade of intense research; however, many questions remain open and require further explorations. This review is concerned with investigations on structural and electronic evolution of TMDCs driven by electrochemically controlled intercalations. Herein, we aim to survey the recent advances and experimental platforms for monitoring the intercalation processes in situ by utilizing nanodevices. In addition, several inquiries and prospects are outlined in a broader context for future avenues of studies.
Effect of Structure on the Spin Switching and Magnetic Bistability of Solid-State Aryl Dicyanomethyl Monoradicals and Diradicals.

Stable organic radicals with switchable spin states have applications in medicine, biology, and material science. An emerging class of such spin-switchable radicals is based on dicyanomethyl radica...
Simultaneous Measurement of Perfusion and T 2 * in Calf Muscle at 7T with Submaximal Exercise using Radial Acquisition

Impairments in oxygen delivery and consumption can lead to reduced muscle endurance and physical disability. Perfusion, a measure of microvascular blood flow, provides information on nutrient delivery. T2* provides information about relative tissue oxygenation. Changes in these parameters following stress, such as exercise, can yield important information about imbalance between delivery and consumption. In this study, we implemented novel golden angle radial MRI acquisition technique to simultaneously quantify muscle perfusion and T2* at 7T with improved temporal resolution, and demonstrated assessment of spatial and temporal changes in these parameters within calf muscles during recovery from plantar flexion exercise. Nine healthy subjects participated the studies. At rest, perfusion and T2* in gastrocnemius muscle group within calf muscle were 5 ± 2 mL/100 g/min and 21.1 ± 3 ms respectively. Then the subjects performed plantar flexion exercise producing a torque of ~8ft-lb. Immediately after the exercise, perfusion was elevated to 79.3 ± 9 mL/100 g/min and T2* was decreased by 6 ± 3%. The time constants for 50% perfusion and T2* recovery were 54.1 ± 10 s and 68.5 ± 7 s respectively. These results demonstrate successful simultaneous quantification of perfusion and T2* in skeletal muscle using the developed technique.
Maximization of xylanase production by Aureobasidium pullulans using a by-product of rice grain milling as xylan source

Abstract The aim of this paper was to maximize xylanase production by Aureobasidium pullulans CCT 1261 using rice bran as xylan source. To achieve this goal, two statistical designs and additional cultivations were performed. The medium composition and cultivation conditions were evaluated by a 26-2 Fractional Factorial Design (FFD), and a 23 Central Composite Design (CCD) was used to model and maximize xylanase production. Sequentially, the model was validated, and some additional cultivations were performed to enhance xylanase production. Maximum xylanase production (82.2 U/mL) was obtained using 3.6 g/L of (NH4)2SO4, 1.5 g/L of yeast extract, 61.9 g/L of rice bran, initial pH 7.0, and 28 °C. After the experimental designs and additional cultivations, xylanase activity was 7-fold higher than at the initial cultivation conditions. In conclusion, this study allowed the sustainable use of a by-product of rice grain milling, which could also contribute to reduce the costs of submerged cultivation.
Population dynamics analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae deletion library during fed-batch cultivation using Bar-seq

To understand the genetic basis of changes in strain physiology during industrial fermentation, and the corresponding roles these genes play in strain performance, we employed a barcoded yeast deletion library to assess genome-wide strain fitness across a simulated industrial fermentation regime. Our results demonstrate the utility of Bar-seq to assess fermentation associated stresses in yeast populations under industrial conditions. We find that mutant population diversity is maintained through multiple seed trains, enabling for large scale fermentation selective pressures to act upon the community. We identify specific deletion mutants that were enriched in all processes, independent of the cultivation conditions, which include MCK1, RIM11, MRK1, and YGK3 that encode homologues of mammalian glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3). Further, we show that significant changes in the population diversity during fed-batch cultivations reflect the presence of significant external stresses, such as the accumulation of the fermentative byproduct ethanol. The mutants that were lost during the time of most extreme population selection suggest that specific biological processes may be required to cope with these specific stresses. Overall our work highlights a promising avenue to identify genetic loci and biological stress responses required for fitness under industrial conditions.
A Synthetic Single-Stranded Dual-Template Oligonucleotide as a Reference Standard for Monochrome Multiplex qPCR Measurements of Average Telomere Length

Quantitative PCR is frequently used to measure average telomere length (TL) relative to the TL of a reference DNA sample chosen by the investigator. This makes comparisons of TLs across studies and laboratories difficult. Here we demonstrate that a single synthetic single-stranded dual-template oligonucleotide (DTO) containing both a telomere repeat sequence (T) and a segment of the human beta-globin (HBB) single copy gene (S) can be used as a universal reference standard for monochrome multiplex quantitative PCR (MMqPCR) measurements of average TL using SYBR Green I as the only fluorescent reporter dye. A set of twelve concentrations of the DTO is prepared by serial 3-fold dilutions, to a lowest concentration of approximately 20 copies per microliter. The 5 highest concentrations are used for the T standard curve, and the 5 lowest concentrations are used for the S standard curve. For each reaction 5 microliters containing approximately 3 ng of genomic DNA (or one of the DTO dilutions) is mixed with 5 microliters of a 2x MasterMix containing the primers for T and S amplification, and MMqPCR is performed. The design of the primers and thermal cycling profile allows all T amplification signals to be collected before exponential amplification of the S signal begins. Exponential amplification from S is then carried out in a temperature range that keeps the telomere product fully melted and therefore unable to influence the S amplification signal. The T value for each DNA sample is the Standard Curve DTO dilution that contains the same number of copies of the telomere sequence as the experimental sample, and the S value is the DTO dilution that contains the same number of copies of the single copy gene sequence as the experimental sample. Dividing the first dilution by the second dilution yields an absolute T/S ratio, since it is expressed relative to the fixed 1:1 T/S ratio that is built into the DTO by design. Absolute T/S ratios for average TL in 48 human DNA samples determined by this method correlated strongly with mean Terminal Restriction Fragment (mTRF) lengths for the same DNA samples determined by the Southern Blot method (R-squared = 0.801). This DTO and the accompanying protocol may facilitate the standardization of average telomere length measurements and analyses across laboratories.
Reluctant Generalised Additive Modelling

Sparse generalised additive models (GAMs) are an extension of sparse generalised linear models that allow a model's prediction to vary non‐linearly with an input variable. This enables the data analyst build more accurate models, especially when the linearity assumption is known to be a poor approximation of reality. Motivated by reluctant interaction modelling, we propose a multi‐stage algorithm, called reluctant generalised additive modelling (RGAM), that can fit sparse GAMs at scale. It is guided by the principle that, if all else is equal, one should prefer a linear feature over a non‐linear feature. Unlike existing methods for sparse GAMs, RGAM can be extended easily to binary, count and survival data. We demonstrate the method's effectiveness on real and simulated examples.
Elastic Power of Mechanical Ventilation in Morbid Obesity and Severe Hypoxemia.

BACKGROUND: To minimize ventilator-induced lung injury, the primary clinical focus is currently expanding from measuring static indices of the individual tidal cycle (eg, plateau pressure and tidal volume) to more inclusive indicators of energy load, such as total power and its elastic components. Morbid obesity may influence these components. We characterized the relative values of elastic subcomponents of total power (ie, driving power and dynamic power) in subjects with severe hypoxemia, morbid obesity, or their combination. METHODS: We analyzed data from subjects receiving mechanical ventilation divided into 4 groups. PaO2/FIO2 40 kg/m2 (morbid obesity) suggested a possible contribution to reduced respiratory system compliance from the chest wall. Group 1 included subjects with no expected abnormality of lung compliance or chest wall compliance; Group 2 included subjects with expected reduction of lung compliance on the basis of severe hypoxemia but with no morbid obesity; Group 3 included subjects with morbid obesity without severe hypoxemia; and Group 4 included subjects with morbid obesity and severe hypoxemia. All ventilator-induced lung injury predictors were compared among groups using mixed-effects linear models. RESULTS: Groups 1–4 included 61, 52, 49, and 51 subjects, respectively. Mean body mass index averaged 28.7 kg/m2 for nonobese subjects and 52.1 kg/m2 for morbidly obese subjects. Mean driving pressure, dynamic power, and driving power of Groups 2 and 3 exceeded the corresponding values of Group 1 but fell into similar ranges when compared with each other. These values were highest in Group 4 subjects. In Group 2, mean dynamic power and driving power values were comparable to those in Group 3. CONCLUSIONS: In mechanically ventilated subjects, stress and energy-based ventilator-induced lung injury indicators are influenced by the relative contributions of chest wall and lung to overall respiratory mechanics. Numerical guidelines for ventilator-induced lung injury risk must strongly consider adjustment for these elastic characteristics in morbid obesity.
Incidence of Sacral Osteomyelitis and Discitis After Minimally Invasive Sacrocolpopexy.

Objective The incidence and associated risk factors for sacral osteomyelitis and sacral discitis after sacrocolpopexy remain unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of sacral osteomyelitis and discitis after minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy and their association with the method of sacral mesh fixation. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study of consecutive minimally invasive sacrocolpopexies performed by 11 female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery board-certified surgeons from January 2009 to August 2019 within a single health system. Sociodemographic, procedure, and clinical variables were abstracted from the electronic health record (EHR). We then performed a confirmatory EHR interrogation, cross-referencing procedural codes for laparoscopic and robot-assisted sacrocolpopexy and diagnostic codes for sacral osteomyelitis and sacral discitis. Results The EHR chart review identified 1,189 women who underwent laparoscopic (55.2%) and robot-assisted (44.8%) minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy, all with polypropylene mesh. Median follow-up was 7.7 months (interquartile range, 0-49.8). Titanium helical tacks were used in 52.7% patients, sutures in 41.6%, and both in 5.6%. No cases (0%) of sacral osteomyelitis or discitis were identified by chart review. The system-wide EHR interrogation of procedural and diagnostic codes identified 421 additional procedures for a total of 1,610 minimally invasive sacrocolpopexies. Among these, there were no cases (0%) of osteomyelitis or discitis. Conclusions Sacral osteomyelitis and discitis are rare early outcomes after minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy with an incidence of less than 1/1,000 cases. Given an absence of cases, we were unable to assess for an association between method of sacral attachment and sacral osteomyelitis and sacral discitis.
Novel Lateral Approach for MIS Sacroiliac Joint Arthrodesis: An Assessment of Feasibility and Outcomes.

Objective The prevalence of physicians experiencing work-related musculoskeletal disorders is high. Traditionally, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) sacroiliac joint (SIJ) fusions are performed with the patient oriented in the prone position, with an incision made inferior to the iliac crest. However, a novel technique that orients the patient in the lateral decubitus position has the potential of significantly enhancing ergonomics and ease of approach. The primary objectives of this study were to quantify surgical parameters, describe this 'lateral-decubitus MIS' technique, and identify imaging angle parameters that predict feasibility. Methods A prospective cohort of patients who underwent MIS SIJ arthrodesis in the lateral decubitus position was evaluated at a single institution between 2017 and 2020. Medians and ranges of intraoperative blood loss, operative time, revision rate, infection, and total radiation dose were recorded. Sacral inlet and outlet angles were defined and collected to assess for operative candidacy. Results Thirty-nine cases were identified in 34 patients who underwent the technique with an age range of 31–78 years. Median blood loss was 22.5 mL, operating room time was 32.5 minutes, and radiation dose was 30.9 rads. Average sacral inlet was 24.51° and average sacral outlet was 65.44°. Median length of stay was 0.94 days. No cases were aborted or required revision. A total of 93% of study participants reported improvement in pain. Operative parameters were comparable to the traditional prone approach. Conclusions The aim was to provide an insight into outcomes and metrics observed from pioneering this style of procedure. A future study comparing traditional perioperative parameters together with surgical ergonomics is needed.
Exploring the Effect of Employment Instability for Relationship Satisfaction in Diverse Couples: Implications for Integrative Multi-couple Group Intervention

This exploratory study examined race/ethnicity, income, and employment status (including underemployment specifically) as predictors of relational distress for members of a couple in a predominantl...
Ecological Response of Ostracodes (Arthropoda, Crustacea) to Lake-Level Fluctuations in the Eocene Green River Formation, Fossil Basin, Wyoming, USA

The Eocene Green River Formation is one of the best-known Konservat lagerstatten and comprises lacustrine strata that were deposited during the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (EECO). Two species of ostracodes, Pseudoeucypris pagei (Swain, Journal of Paleontology, 23:172–181, 1949) and Hemicyprinotus watsonensis (Swain, Journal of Paleontology, 23:172–181, 1949), were recovered from 16 intervals at three sites from Fossil Basin, Wyoming, USA. Population density per sample was quantified as the number of ostracode valves per cm2. Analysis of kerogen content shows a significant difference between preservation based upon lithology, with ostracodes being more commonly preserved in kerogen-poor micrites but more abundant when preserved in kerogen-rich micrites. The nature of preservation also was correlated to lithology with ostracodes being preserved as whole carapaces more frequently in kerogen-poor micrites and being more broken and disarticulated in kerogen-rich micrites. Species tracked lithology as well, with the epiphytic species P. pagei occurring exclusively in kerogen-poor micrites and dolomicrites, while the benthic species H. watsonenis occurred in kerogen-rich micrites as well as some kerogen-poor micrites. The present study demonstrates how ostracodes are preserved differently within the basin and the utility of species occurrences in tracking changing lake environments, as similarly reported in other Green River Formation basins. Here, we interpret that the presence of P. pagei and the rocks it is preserved in indicate shallower lake conditions, while shifts to H. watsonensis are indicative of deepening lake conditions.
Uncertainty-based weight determination for surrogate optimization

Abstract Fuel surrogates are simplified models that mimic the combustion characteristics of very complex real transportation fuels and enable a detailed description of the computational system for the targeted real fuels. Current efforts in surrogate development focus on matching multiple target properties of the real fuel using numerical optimization of species compositions. A way to solve the multi-objective optimization problem is to employ the weighted-sum approach with arbitrarily assigned weights. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to reduce such arbitrariness by incorporating physical information into the surrogate optimization process, leveraging uncertainties from experimental measurements and mixture property predictions to determine the weight of each target property. The underlying principle of this approach is assigning low weight for properties with high uncertainty since a tight emulation of that property is not necessary. We propose formulations that convert relative uncertainties of each target property into weights for multi-objective surrogate optimization, which penalize target properties with high uncertainties. The method is flexible enough to accommodate not only multiple uncertainty sources, but also users’ preferences and the sensitivity of weights to uncertainty variations can be readily adjusted. The proposed method is applied to formulate surrogate mixtures for three reference target jet fuels (Jet-A POSF-10325, JP-8 POSF-10264, JP-5 POSF-10289), which have considerably different hydrocarbon compositions and properties. The results show that the surrogates developed by the uncertainty-based weight method emulate the target properties of fuels very closely, and they are able to capture the compositional characteristics of the target fuels as well.
New Real-Time PCR Assays for Detection of Inducible and Acquired Clarithromycin Resistance in the Mycobacterium abscessus Group

Members of the Mycobacterium abscessus group (MAG) cause lung, soft tissue, and disseminated infections. The oral macrolides clarithromycin and azithromycin are commonly used for treatment. MAG can display clarithromycin resistance through the inducible erm(41) gene or via acquired mutations in the rrl (23S rRNA) gene. Strains harboring a truncation or a T28C substitution in erm(41) lose the inducible resistance trait. Phenotypic detection of clarithromycin resistance requires extended incubation (14 days), highlighting the need for faster methods to detect resistance. Two real-time PCR-based assays were developed to assess inducible and acquired clarithromycin resistance and tested on a total of 90 clinical and reference strains. A SYBR green assay was designed to distinguish between a full-length and truncated erm(41) gene by temperature shift in melting curve analysis. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) allele discrimination assays were developed to distinguish T or C at position 28 of erm(41) and 23S rRNA rrl gene mutations at position 2058 and/or 2059. Truncated and full-size erm(41) genes were detected in 21/90 and 69/90 strains, respectively, with 64/69 displaying T at nucleotide position 28 and 5/69 containing C at that position. Fifteen isolates showed rrl mutations conferring clarithromycin resistance, including A2058G (11 isolates), A2058C (3 isolates), and A2059G (1 isolate). Targeted sequencing and phenotypic assessment of resistance concurred with molecular assay results. Interestingly, we also noted cooccurring strains harboring an active erm(41), inactive erm(41), and/or acquired mutational resistance, as well as slowly growing MAG strains and also strains displaying an inducible resistance phenotype within 5 days, long before the recommended 14-day extended incubation.
IN THE SHADOW OF THE PARTY: ELECTORAL HEGEMONY IN MODERN DAY TANZANIA

Why have some formerly single-party regimes become fairly stable and dominating electoral authoritarian regimes while others have had much more difficulty competing? This paper addresses this question by investigating a case of hegemonic electoral authoritarianism in Tanzania. The paper argues that single-parties that invested in more articulate and coherent governing structures (structural articulation) and robust systems for mass mobilization (social robustness) were better able to adapt to the challenge of multiparty politics while resorting to comparatively less fraud and coercion. The paper will trace the evolution of Tanzania’s ruling party - CCM and its predecessor TANU - which has been in power since 1962 and has easily won every election since 1995. It will incorporate insights from fieldwork conducted in 2010 and use process tracing evidence and inductive elimination to support the argument. The paper has implications for the literature on electoral authoritarianism by delving deeper into the role of institution building under authoritarianism and the capacity of elections to serve authoritarian rather than democratic purposes.
Designing Agent-Based Electronic Employment Markets

Two modes of matching people with jobs prevail at present: 1) hierarchical planning and 2) distributed markets. Each has strengths and limitations, but few systems have been designed to take advantage of strengths corresponding to both. With evolving information technology, however, the job-matching process could be accomplished far more equitably and efficiently using web-based markets within the firm, and intelligent agents offer excellent potential to help both potential employees and employers find one another in a distributed, electronic marketplace. But realizing this potential goes well beyond simply changing the rules of internal job matching or making agent technology available to job searchers. Rather, the corresponding markets and technologies must be i>designed, together, to mutually accomplish the desired results (e.g., efficient and effective matching) and conform to necessary properties (e.g., market clearing). Through the research described in this paper, we draw from Game Theory results to assess the feasibility of using two-sided matching algorithms to address this market-design problem. We also draw from current agent research to address the information technology dimension of the problem by implementing a proof-of-concept multi-agent system to enact, automate and support the corresponding market solution. This paper integrates the key economic and technological elements required to design robust electronic employment markets. And the corresponding research provides new knowledge and insight into co-development of the requisite economic markets and agent technologies.
Net radiation, sensible and latent heat flux densities on slopes computed by the energy balance method

Energy balance components obtained over five grass-covered sloping surfaces near Manhattan, KS, using the Bowen ratio energy balance technique with the instruments mounted horizontally were compared with calculated values when the instruments were mounted parallel to the surfaces. Hourly values of the components changed when the instruments were parallel to the surfaces. The changes were larger at low solar angles (spring and fall) and on steeper slopes. An area average of daylight totals, assuming that all aspects were equally represented, changed only 0.1 percent on June 6 and 2.3 percent on October 11. The calculations, extended to steeper slopes, indicated small changes in the daylight totals for slopes of less than 10 deg.
Character formulas and spectra of compact nilmanifolds

The authors give a new method for calculating the spectrum and multiplicities of the irreducible unitary representations appearing in the quasi-regular representation U: N × L2(ΓβN) → L2(ΓβN) on a compact nilmanifold ΓβN. They proceed by decomposing the trace of U into traces of irreducible representations. The basic calculations in the paper deal with lattice subgroups (Λ = log Γ an additive lattice in the Lie algebra N), essentially using the Poisson summation formula. Let Ad′ be the contragredient adjoint action of N on N∗. If ƒ0 ϵ N∗, the multiplicity of π(ƒ0) in U is zero unless the Ad′(N) orbit of ƒ0 meets Λ⊥ = {h ϵ N∗: ⊆ Z}. If ƒ0 ϵ Λ⊥, then the multiplicity is a sum over representatives of certain Ad′(Γ)-orbits in, m(π(ƒ0),U) = ∑Ad′(N)ƒ0∩Λ⊥Ad′(Γ)k(ƒ) . The constants k(ƒ) are given both algebraic and geometric interpretations that lead to simple and effective calculations. Similar formulas hold if Γ is not a lattice subgroup.
Spirituality, recruiting, and total wellness: overcoming challenges to organizational attraction

As individuals and organizations are more consciously exploring the intersection of spirituality and work the question arises as to what impact spirituality will have in terms of organizational recruitment. Drawing on the literature surrounding recruitment, as well as signaling theory, diversity, and person-organizational fit, we explore the potential influence of spirituality on organizational attractiveness. After considering the various organizational motivations for projecting spirituality into recruitment efforts, we develop attraction-related propositions associated with those distinct motivations. Finally, we propose that a singular approach to contextualizing spirituality will have the most positive effect on organizational attraction regardless of organizational motivation.
Field Experiments on Hydraulic Fracturing

Hydraulic fracturing experiments at 2 underground and one near-surface location in igneous and shale formations are described. The purpose of the tests was to study the feasibility of hydraulic fracturing as a method of determining in situ stresses. The tests were conducted in open holes of 2-1/4 in. diam with specially designed equipment. Fracturing tests on two 5-ft diam cores also are reported. The results were very encouraging for the following reasons: (1) At all 3 locations, a clear increase in the magnitude of the stress was measured as the face of an opening was approached from inside the rock mass. This is in agreement with continuum theory predictions of stress concentrations around openings, and indicates that the method is capable of giving an estimate of the stress magnitude, provided it is possible to determine the rupture strength of the rock; (2) The occurrence of horizontal fractures in areas of reportedly high lateral (compressive) stresses (i.e., horizontal stresses in excess of the vertical stress) is further evidence for the validity of the principle of least resistance, i.e., that the fracture will extend in a direction perpendicular to the least compressive stress. (14 refs.)
The Effects of Media Bias

The current research investigated whether bias exists in newspapers that are considered liberal or conservative, and whether this bias influences public opinion of events. Participants were college students (N = 67) who were enrolled in a 4-year university (n = 33) or a community college (n = 34). Participants were shown photographs and short articles relating to a presidential debate between President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry. Participants completed questionnaires relating to their opinions of the candidates. Results showed statistical significance within groups before and after exposure to the newspaper clippings.
Adaptive Kalman Filtering in Computer Relaying: Fault Classification Using Voltage Models

This paper describes a new probabilistic technique for fault classification to be used in digital distance protection of power systems. The new technique is based on an adaptive Kalman filter using voltage measurements. The voltage data of each phase is processed in two Kalman filter models simultaneously. One Kalman filter assumes the features of a faulted phase while the other has the features of an unfaulted phase. The condition of the phase, faulted or non-faulted, is then decided from the computed a posteriori probabilities.
Reliability Analysis of N-Modular Redundancy Systems with Intermittent and Permanent Faults

It is well known that static redundancy techniques are very efficient against intermittent (transient) faults which constitute a large portion of logic faults in digital systems. However, very little theoretical work has been done in evaluating the reliability of modular redundancy systems which are subject to intermittent malfunction occurrences. In this paper we present a statistical model for intermittent faults and use it to analyze the reliability of NMR systems in mixed intermittent and permanent fault environments.
Self-Consciousness in Members of a New Religious Movement: The Rajneeshees.

(1990). Self-Consciousness in Members of a New Religious Movement: The Rajneeshees. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 130, No. 4, pp. 557-558.
Context matching and judgments of recency.

An experiment was done to test a context-matching explanation of memory for recency under steady-state conditions. Subjects went through a list of 550 names, in which individual names were repeated at lags of 5–30 other items. The names were shown in two different styles or contexts. An old versus new recognition decision was made on each name, and eachold response was followed by a numerical judgment of recency (JOR). When first- and second-presentation contexts were the same, recognition hit rates were higher, and mean JORs were shorter (more recent), than when the two contexts were different. The JOR result is as predicted by the context-matching hypothesis.
Betaine accumulation in salt-stressed sorghum

Two analytical methods for measuring betaine were compared in a study of betaine accumulation in salt-stressed sorghum. Spectrophotometric determination of betaine as the p-bromophenacyl ester is highly sensitive and specific. However, a periodide assay was found to be more convenient for screening numerous plant samples without undue sacrifice in accuracy. The accumulation of betaine in grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] cvs NK 265 and Double TX was measured in salt-stressed plants grown hydroponically and in the field and in drought-stressed potted plants. Neither drought nor mild salinity (-0.2 MPa) stress was effective in stimulating betaine accumulation. However, when the osmotic potential of the culture solution was lowered to -0.8 MPa, betaine levels in the shoots rose rapidly for 12 days after initiation of salination, and then declined, apparently because of dilution by plant growth. In young leaf blades, betaine was strongly accumulated up to 70–75 μmol (g dry weight)−1; the concentration in leaf sheaths was less than 6 μmol (g dry weight)−1. In the field, betaine levels in salt-stressed sorghum increased 6- to 7-fold over the basal level of the control plants. In a comparable study of two wheat species (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Probred and T. durum Desf. cv. 1000-D), betaine increased only 3- to 4-fold over unstressed plants.
Neutron reflectivity as a tool to understand polyelectrolyte brushes

Abstract Because polyelectrolytes are perhaps the least understood form of soft synthetic matter, polyelectrolyte brushes are important model systems for learning how chain stretching is controlled by conditions that set the charge state of the system, as well as interactions with biological and bio-inspired molecules. Motivated by this fact, we describe situations where the application of neutron reflectivity to the study of polyelectrolyte brushes is poised to deepen understanding of the complex connections between charge and nanostructure. This theme is especially pertinent because the nanoscale structure dictates interactions across interfaces.
Why Are Women Underrepresented in Elite Colleges and Universities? A Non-Linear Decomposition Analysis.

The emerging female advantage in education has received considerable attention in the popular media and recent research. We examine a persistent exception to this trend: women’s underrepresentation in America’s most competitive colleges and universities. Using nationally generalizable data spanning four decades, we evaluate evidence for three possible explanations. First, we analyze whether men’s academic profiles more closely match the admissions preferences of elite institutions. Next, we consider organizational preferences for male applicants. Finally, we test whether women self-select out of elite institutions through their application choices. Using Blinder–Oaxaca non-linear decomposition techniques and multinomial logistic regression, we find that men’s advantage in standardized test scores best explains the enrollment gap. Our analyses thus suggest that the gender enrollment gap in elite colleges and universities is a matter of access, not student choice. We discuss the implications of these results for educational equity and college admissions.
Thermal conductivity of vertically aligned carbon nanotube arrays: Growth conditions and tube inhomogeneity

The thermal conductivity of vertically aligned carbon nanotube arrays (VACNTAs) grown on silicon dioxide substrates via chemical vapor deposition is measured using a 3ω technique. For each sample, the VACNTA layer and substrate are pressed to a heating line at varying pressures to extract the sample's thermophysical properties. The nanotubes' structure is observed via transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The presence of hydrogen and water vapor in the fabrication process is tuned to observe the effect on measured thermal properties. The presence of iron catalyst particles within the individual nanotubes prevents the array from achieving the overall thermal conductivity anticipated based on reported measurements of individual nanotubes and the packing density.
R68-22 Current Status of Large Scale Integration Technology

This paper combines a useful review of progress during the past year, a description of present programs and immediate goals, and some forecasts of ultimate goals. Although the author, as director of Texas Instruments' semiconductor research and development laboratories, deals primarily with programs and points of view at TI, he makes enough references to work at other companies to build up a reasonably comprehensive picture of the large-scale integration field. Four main areas are covered: bipolar chip technology, full-slice technology, MOS technology, and hybrid technology.