cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Denaturation and Renaturation of Self-Assembled Yeast Iso-1-cytochrome c on Au

We have made surface plasmon resonance (SPR) measurements of yeast iso-1-cytochrome c (Cyt c) on a gold surface. Angle-resolved SPR curves are recorded as a function of urea concentration before and after self-assembly of the Cyt c. Exposure to a urea solution causes denaturation of Cyt c, which shifts the minimum in the SPR curve to a larger angle and decreases the signal amplitude. The Gibbs free energy change for denaturation of the protein on Au is calculated from the change of the SPR signal amplitude with urea concentration. We find that (1) Cyt c can be reversibly denatured and renatured, depending on the urea concentration, and (2) the Gibbs free energy change for denaturation of Cyt c on Au surface in water, ΔG°water, is 1.5 kcal/mol, which is ∼4 times less than that in bulk solution.
Polycythemia following renal transplantation unrelated to the allograft.

A case of polycythemia following renal transplantation is described. The polycythemia, which was associated with high erythropoietin levels, reverted to normal after bilateral nephrectomy of the patient's own glomerulonephritic kidneys. It is concluded that polycythemia following renal transplantation is not always due to the allograft.
Crystallization and preliminary X-ray investigation of a ubiquitin carrier protein (E2) from Arabidopsis thaliana.

Crystals of a recombinant ubiquitin carrier protein from Arabidopsis thaliana have been grown from solutions of ammonium sulfate. The crystals are orthorhombic, space group P212121; the axes are a = 41.8(1) A, b = 44.9(1) A and c = 83.2(1) A. The crystals are quite stable to X-rays and diffract beyond 2.1 Aresolution. There is one molecule in the asymmetric unit.
Exploring the potential of mesoporous silica, SBA-15, as an adsorbent for light hydrocarbon separation

Equilibrium adsorption isotherms for methane, ethane, ethylene, acetylene, propane, and propylene have been measured for the first time on mesoporous silica, SBA-15, and the data are analyzed by using the Langmuir−Freundlich adsorption isotherm model. The adsorption capacities for ethylene and propylene are found to be higher than those for corresponding alkanes. Likewise, adsorption of acetylene is more pronounced as compared to ethylene. The isosteric heats of adsorption for various adsorbates estimated by the Clausius−Clapeyron equation are higher for olefins and acetylene and are comparable with those reported for π-complexation based systems. Such a trend has in turn suggested a higher affinity of SBA-15 framework for alkenes over corresponding alkanes, which has been examined in terms of the textural characteristics of SBA-15. It is suggested that SBA-15 can potentially be a good adsorbent for separation of light hydrocarbons.
Stability of MFI zeolite-filled PDMS membranes during pervaporative ethanol recovery from aqueous mixtures containing acetic acid

Pervaporation is a potential process for recovering bioethanol produced from biomass fermentation. Fermentation broths contain ethanol, water, and a variety of other compounds, often including carboxylic acids. The effects of acetic acid on long-term pervaporation of aqueous ethanol mixtures through high-silica ZSM-5 zeolite-filled polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS; silicone rubber) membranes were investigated. Acetic acid was shown to reduce the ethanol removal effectiveness of these membranes. Initially after acetic acid addition, ethanol and water fluxes decreased due to acetic acid competing with ethanol and water for adsorption sites in the membrane. Longer-term exposure to acetic acid resulted in an irreversible, steady decline in ethanol/water separation factor because of declining ethanol flux. Increasing feed pH to above the dissociation constant (pKa) of acetic acid diminished the longer-term decline in ethanol flux and essentially eliminated the effect of competitive adsorption. Measurements of adsorption competition between ethanol, water, and either acetic acid or succinic acid on the zeolite particles suggested that other carboxylic acids would have qualitatively similar short-term effects on membrane performance as those observed for acetic acid.
Course Grades Through Conversational Programming.

Abstract An application of conversational programming is described by means of which an instructor may use the computer for the calculation of course grades for a class of up to 100 students in a course with up to 10 components of varying weights. Separate copies of the program may be used by the instructor for different courses, and a copy of the program and data which have been supplied to it may be used to experiment on the effects of contemplated component weight changes on the distribution of course grades. An example of the use of the program is included.
Recent land-use/land-cover change in the Central California Valley

Open access to Landsat satellite data has enabled annual analyses of modern land-use and land-cover change (LULCC) for the Central California Valley ecoregion between 2005 and 2010. Our annual LULCC estimates capture landscape-level responses to water policy changes, climate, and economic instability. From 2005 to 2010, agriculture in the region fluctuated along with regulatory-driven changes in water allocation as well as persistent drought conditions. Grasslands and shrublands declined, while developed lands increased in former agricultural and grassland/shrublands. Development rates stagnated in 2007, coinciding with the onset of the historic foreclosure crisis in California and the global economic downturn. We utilized annual LULCC estimates to generate interval-based LULCC estimates (2000–2005 and 2005–2010) and extend existing 27 year interval-based land change monitoring through 2010. Resulting change data provides insights into the drivers of landscape change in the Central California Valley ecore...
Silica–sol-templated mesoporous carbon as catalyst support for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell applications

Abstract Mesoporous carbon (MC) samples having especially high specific surface area, pore size, and pore volume (e.g. pore volume in excess of 4 cm3 g−1) were prepared and their suitability as Pt catalyst supports in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells was examined. Pt particles on the MC support were slightly larger than those on commercial samples of Pt on carbon black, and they showed a greater tendency to agglomerate on the MC support than on carbon black. Ex situ cyclic voltammetry gave values for electrochemically active surface area that were about half that for a commercial Pt-on-carbon black sample. Preliminary attempts to prepare thin-film electrodes from Pt/MC samples with a Nafion binder using conventional ink formulations failed, probably because much of the Nafion electrolyte was taken up inside support pores and was not available to bind the support particles together. An alternate approach involving painting of catalyst inks directly onto gas diffusion layers was used to prepare membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) from Pt/MC samples, which were tested using single-cell test hardware. Performance of these Pt/MC sample MEAs was compared with that prepared by decal transfer method with commercially obtained Vulcan XC-72R supported Pt catalyst. The reasons for the lower performance of Pt/MC were discussed.
NF-kappa B activation in tumor necrosis factor alpha-stimulated neutrophils is mediated by protein kinase Cdelta. Correlation to nuclear Ikappa Balpha.

The transcription factor NF-κB is critical for the expression of multiple genes involved in inflammatory responses and apoptosis. However, the signal transduction pathways regulating NF-κB activation in human neutrophils in response to stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) are undefined. Since recent studies implicated activation of NF-κB as well as protein kinase C-δ (PKCδ) in neutrophil apoptosis, we investigated involvement of PKCδ in the activation of NF-κB in TNFα-stimulated neutrophils. Specific inhibition of PKCδ by rottlerin prevented IκBα degradation and NF-κB activation in TNFα-stimulated neutrophils. This regulation of NF-κB activation by PKCδ was specific only for TNFα signaling, since lipopolysaccharide- or interleukin-1β-induced NF-κB activation and IκBα degradation were not inhibited by rottlerin. In addition, we show that in human neutrophils, but not monocytes, IκBα localizes in significant amounts in the nucleus of unstimulated cells, and the amount of IκBα in the nucleus, as well as in the cytoplasm, correlates with the NF-κB DNA binding. These results suggest that in human neutrophils, the presence of IκBα in the nucleus may function as a safeguard against initiation of NF-κB dependent transcription of pro-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic genes, and represents a distinct and novel mechanism of NF-κB regulation.
Electrochemically self-assembled nanostructure arrays

Abstract Quasi-periodic arrays of quantum dots and nanowires of a wide variety of materials can be self-assembled using simple beaker electrochemistry. The chemistry controls the size, density and material composition. In terms of periodicity, size control, cost, and achievable nanostructure density, electrochemical self-assembly more than rivals others such as Stranski–Krastanow growth. However, because of the wet chemistry employed, the material purity is compromised. Nonetheless, these structures show intriguing device behavior. Here, we describe a unique device—a room-temperature infrared photodetector that also exhibits a negative differential resistance. The amplitude and position of the NDR peak can be modulated by infrared excitation. This may have application in biologically inspired computing architectures.
MRSA-related perianal abscesses: an underrecognized disease entity.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in perianal abscesses represents an underrecognized condition. It is unclear whether these abscesses differ in presentation or other characteristics from their non-MRSA counterparts. Patients diagnosed with perianal abscess, who underwent incision and drainage between January 2003 and September 2005, were identified retrospectively. Demographics, abscess characteristics (induration, erythema, abscess size, amount of purulence), presence of MRSA on culture, MRSA susceptibilities, and clinical course were collected. A total of 104 patients (62.5 percent male; mean age, 42.7 ± 13.7 years) were treated for perianal abscess. For the 69 patients cultured at drainage, MRSA was present in 34.8 percent (24/69) of cases (95 percent confidence interval, 24.6–46.6 percent). MRSA-positive patients did not significantly differ from MRSA-negative patients with respect to age, MRSA risk factors, duration of symptoms, white blood cell count at admission, or length of stay. Patients were more likely to be MRSA-positive if they possessed extensive induration (odds ratio, 6.52; P = 0.003), extensive erythema (odds ratio, 5.75; P = 0.003), or small amount of purulence (odds ratio, 9.72; P = 0.006). Ischiorectal abscesses were significantly less likely to be MRSA-positive (odds ratio, 0.34; P = 0.016). No patients with MRSA-positive abscesses developed fistulas. All MRSA isolates were resistant to β-lactam antibiotics and had limited susceptibility to quinolones. The prevalence of MRSA in perianal abscesses has not been described previously and is higher in our group of patients than would be expected. MRSA-positive patients cannot be identified by risk factors alone. Antibiotic resistance spectra of MRSA vary from that of enteric bacteria typically seen in perianal abscesses. Therefore, it may be beneficial to culture all perianal abscesses with extensive induration and erythema or minimal purulence.
An experimental method for studying nonisothermal crystallization of polymers at very high cooling rates

A new technique based on light depolarizing microscopy was developed for studying non-isothermal crystallization of polymers at average cooling rates up to about 5000°C/min. The polymer is cooled down by a gaseous cooling medium supplied at a constant temperature. The temperature of polymer is measured by a thermocouple imbedded directly in the sample. A heat transfer analysis was used to establish appropriate sample geometry to assure that, under the applied cooling condition, the temperature distribution along the sample thickness can be neglected. A light-scattering effect, which occurs when crystallization is carried out under high cooling rates, was observed. This required the development of a method to correct the depolarized light intensity for the effect of light scattering. An appropriate correction method was developed based on both a theoretical and an experimental analysis of the light intensity measurement. This provided a means to measure the overall crystallization kinetics. Examples of such measurements for iPP, HDPE, and LDPE are presented. In addition to the overall crystallization kinetics, the developed technique includes a video camera and VCR system used for measurements of spherulite growth rates during crystallization under high cooling rates. Constant spherulite growth rates were observed for isotactic polypropylene crystallized under very non-isothermal conditions. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Tinea corporis gladiatorum

Many cutaneous disorders are reported in wrestlers. Most of these conditions are infectious. Herpes simplex infection in wrestlers is quite well known, but recently, dermatophyte infection has received increased attention. Tinea corporis gladiatorum, caused in most cases by Trichophyton tonsurans, infects wrestlers at alarming rates. Transmission of this infection is primarily through skin-to-skin contact. The rapid identification and treatment of tinea corporis gladiatorum is vital to minimize disruption in team practices and competitions. Preventive measures, including pharmacologic intervention, are paramount.
Dependence of wind energy on electric utility in the U.S.

THE wind power sector in the US is poised to see increased growth as concerns over climate change, energy independence, and the consumption of non-renewable energy resources intensify. Rapid increases in wind turbine technology have led to a dramatic increase in the size and output of wind energy systems [1]. Following these trends, the wind industry in the US has grown substantially. Wind power has been the fastest growing source of new electric power generation in the US for several years. In 2009, generation of wind power increased 33.5 percent over 2008 as installed capacity rose to 34,296 megawatts (MW) in 2009 from 24,651 MW in 2008. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) predicts that electric utilities plan on installing 72,157 MW of additional wind capacity between 2010 and 2014 [2]. Thus, wind energy is poised to play an ever-increasing role in the future of the US energy industry.
In vitro evaluation of a novel process for reducing bacterial contamination of environmental surfaces.

Background: Disinfection of contaminated surfaces is an integral and challenging aspect of infection prevention. We evaluated the ability of Goldshield 5 (GS; NBS Technology, Laurelton, NY), an antimicrobial surfactant that coats surfaces with covalently bound octadecyldimethylammonium ions, to reduce the bacterial burden on contaminated surfaces. Methods: We tested the GS product for inhibitory activity against patient isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), and Escherichia coli (EC) on fabric according to the garment industry standard American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists 100 protocol. We also tested the product for activity against these same isolates in carrier tests with a modified Association of Official Analytical Chemists use-dilution method. Results: On fabric, viability of bacterial isolates was inhibited for 14 days. GS also reduced recovery of viable MRSA, PA, and EC from Formica and stainless steel carriers treated with the product. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that GS has inhibitory activity and potential utility as part of an infection control process.
Phase variation leads to the misidentification of a Neisseria gonorrhoeae virulence gene.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the causative agent of gonorrhea and an obligate pathogen of humans. The Opa proteins of these bacteria are known to mediate attachment and internalization by host cells, including neutrophils. The Opa protein repertoire of a typical N. gonorrhoeae isolate is encoded on ∼11 genes distributed throughout the chromosome and is subject to stochastic changes in expression through phase variation. Together, these characteristics make Opa proteins a critical yet unpredictable aspect of any experimental investigation into the interaction of N. gonorrhoeae with host cells. The goal of this study was to identify novel virulence factors of N. gonorrhoeae by assessing the contribution of a set of uncharacterized hydrogen peroxide-induced genes to bacterial survival against neutrophil-mediated killing. To this end, a strain harboring an engineered mutation in the NGO0322 gene was identified that exhibited increased sensitivity to neutrophil-mediated killing, enhanced internalization by neutrophils, and the ability to induce high levels of neutrophil-generated reactive oxygen species. Each of these phenotypes reverted to near wild-type levels following genetic complementation of the NGO0322 mutation. However, after immunoblot analysis of Opa proteins expressed by the isogenic parent, mutant, and genetically complemented strains, it was determined that phase variation had resulted in a disparity between the Opa profiles of these strains. To determine whether Opa phase variation, rather than NGO0322 mutation, was the cause of the observed neutrophil-related phenotypes, NGO0322 function was investigated in N. gonorrhoeae strains lacking all Opa proteins or constitutively expressing the OpaD variant. In both cases, mutation of NGO0322 did not alter survival of gonococci in the presence of neutrophils. These results demonstrate the importance of controlling for the frequent and random variation in Opa protein production by N. gonorrhoeae when investigating host cell interactions.
Signal and noise in ultrasound-modulated optical tomography: a Monte Carlo study

Ultrasound-modulated optical tomography in inhomogeneous scattering media was studied using a Monte Carlo modeling technique. The contributions from two different modulation mechanisms were included in the simulation. The differences between embedded absorption and scattering objects in the ultrasound-modulated optical signals were compared. The effects of neighboring inhomogeneity and background optical properties on the ultrasound-modulated optical signals were also studied. We analyzed the signal-to-noise ratio in the experiment and found that the major noise source is the speckle noise caused by small particle movement within the biological tissue sample. This effect was studied by incorporating a Brownian motion factor in the simulation.
A numerical study of the atmospheric circulation on Venus

Abstract The atmospheric circulation on Venus was studied by means of numerical integrations of the governing equations. In the main part of the calculations, stationary solar heating was assumed and the atmospheric circulation was calculated using spherical polar coordinates. A horizontal wind was found directed from the subsolar to the antisolar points in the upper part of the atmosphere where the radiative differential heating dominates, but oppositely directed in the lower part of the atmosphere. Analysis of the atmospheric energy balance has shown that the upward motion near the subsolar point cools the atmosphere where the atmosphere is heated by insulation and that the downward motion near the antisolar point warms the atmosphere where infrared cooling prevails. The planetary radiation budget and the energy balance due to atmospheric circulation were in good agreement. In additional calculations, we investigated the effect of moving solar heating due to planetary differential rotation relative to t...
Brownian Motion and Riemannian Geometry in the Neighbourhood of a Submanifold

Let M be a complete connected smooth Riemannian manifold of dimension n and P a q-dimensional smoothly embedded smooth submanifold of M. M0 will denote a tubular neighbourhood of P in M. Let L = \(\frac{1}{2}\Delta\) + b + c be a differential operator on M, where Δ is the Laplacian on smooth functions, b a smooth vector field on M and c a smooth potential term. Let p\(_{t}^{\mathrm{M}_{0}}(-,-)\) be the Dirichlet heat kernel of M0, and p\(_{t}^{\mathrm{M}}(-,-)\) the heat kernel of M. We will show in this article that for a smooth function f:M→R with compact support in M0, the integral \(\int_{\mathrm{P}}\)f(y)p\(_{t}^{\mathrm{M}_{0}}\)(x,y)π(dy) generalizes the usual Dirichlet heat kernel and has an asymptotic expansion of the form: $$ \int_{\mathrm{P}}f(y)p_{t}^{\mathrm{M}_{0}}(x,y)\pi({\rm dy}) = q_{t} (x,P)\left[ \mathrm{f}(\gamma(\mathrm{t}))+\sum\limits_{\alpha=1}^{N}\mathrm{b}_{\alpha}\mathrm{(x,P)t}^{\alpha}+ \mathrm{o}(t^{N})\right] , $$ where π is the Riemannian measure on P and qt (x,P) is defined in Eq. 2.7. The asymptotic expansion is then extended to \(\int_{\mathrm{P}}\)f(y)p\(_{t}^{\mathrm{M}}\)(x,y)π(dy). The above expansion generalizes the usual Minakshisundaram–Pleijel heat kernel expansion and a computation of the leading expansion coefficients suggests that it is also a generalization of the heat content expansion. The expansion coefficients are local geometric invariants given by simple integrals of the derivatives of the metric tensor and the volume change factor θP. The leading coefficients are then computed in terms of the Riemannian geometry in the neighbourhood of the submanifold P at the centre of Fermi coordinates y0 ∈ P.
Estimation of possibly misspecified semiparametric conditional moment restriction models with different conditioning variables

Abstract Newey and Powell [2003. Instrumental variable estimation of nonparametric models. Econometrica 71, 1565–1578] and Ai and Chen [2003. Efficient estimation of conditional moment restrictions models containing unknown functions. Econometrica 71, 1795–1843] propose sieve minimum distance (SMD) estimation of both finite dimensional parameter ( θ ) and infinite dimensional parameter (h) that are identified through a conditional moment restriction model, in which h could depend on endogenous variables. This paper modifies their SMD procedure to allow for different conditioning variables to be used in different equations, and derives the asymptotic properties when the model may be misspecified. Under low-level sufficient conditions, we show that: (i) the modified SMD estimators of both θ and h converge to some pseudo-true values in probability; (ii) the SMD estimators of smooth functionals, including the θ estimator and the average derivative estimator, are asymptotically normally distributed; and (iii) the estimators for the asymptotic covariances of the SMD estimators of smooth functionals are consistent and easy to compute. These results allow for asymptotically valid tests of various hypotheses on the smooth functionals regardless of whether the semiparametric model is correctly specified or not.
Normality of nilpotent varieties in E6

Abstract We determine which nilpotent orbits in E6 have closures which are normal varieties and which do not. At the same time we are able to verify a conjecture in [E. Sommers, Comm. Math. Univ. Sancti Pauli 49 (1) (2000) 101–104] concerning functions on non-special nilpotent orbits for E6.
Pain beliefs. What do elders believe

The purpose of this descriptive study was to better understand elders' beliefs regarding chronic pain. The research questions were (a) What are the pain beliefs of elders experiencing nonmalignant chronic pain (NMP) and chronic pain associated with malignancy with the hope for recovery (MHR)? (b) Are there differences in pain beliefs between the NMP group and the MHR group? and (c) Do elders have similar or different pain beliefs? Sixty adults age 65 or older, all cognitively intact, completed the Pain Beliefs Questionnaire; 30 had arthritis and 30 had cancer. Of the total, 60% responded that pain is the result of damage to the body--either often, almost always, or always. Another 13% believed that pain was rarely or never the result of such damage, and 15% rarely or never saw pain as a sign of illness. In all, 68% responded that depression makes pain seem worse.
The effects of colony characteristics on life span and foraging behavior of individual wasps (Polybia occidentalis, Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

We studied the effects of intrinsic colony characteristics and an imposed contingency on the life span and behavior of foragers in the swarm-founding social waspPolybia occidentalis. Data were collected on marked, known-age workers introduced into four observation colonies. To test the hypothesis that colony demographic features affect worker life span, we examined the relationships of colony age and size with worker life span using survivorship analysis. Colony age and size had positive relationships with life span; marked workers from two larger, older colonies had longer life spans (¯X = 24.7 days) than those from two smaller, younger colonies (¯X = 20.1 days). We quantified the effects of experimentally imposed nest damage on forager behavior, to determine which of three predicted behavioral responses by foragers to this contingency (increased probability of foraging for building material, increased rate of foraging, or decrease in age of onset of foraging) would be employed. Increasing the colony level of need for materials used in nest construction (wood pulp and water) by damaging the nests of two colonies did not cause an increase in either the proportion of marked workers that gathered nest materials or in foraging rates of marked individuals, when compared with introduced workers in two simultaneously observed control colonies. Instead, nest damage caused a decrease in the age at which marked workers first foraged for pulp and water. The response to an increase in the need for building materials was an acceleration of behavioral development in some workers.
Evidence and ethics in mandatory vaccination policies.

Few aspects of vaccination activities in the United States generate as much attention and controversy as those policies that mandate vaccines for specific populations. Public debates about the safe...
Effects of progesterone and estrogen on endothelial dysfunction in porcine coronary arteries.

Background The effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on the vascular endothelium have been controversial. In this study, we determined the effects of HRT on endothelium-dependent relaxation in a porcine coronary artery model. Methods Coronary artery rings harvested from female swine were incubated as controls or with estrogen (10−9, 10−8, 10−7 g/L), progesterone (1 × 10−6, 1 × 10−5, 5 × 10−5 g/L), or a combination of the two (10−8g/L estrogen, 1 × 10−5g/L progesterone). After 24 h in tissue culture, the rings were tested on a myograph system to measure contraction and endothelium-dependent relaxation. Myograph analysis was performed with the thromboxane A2 analogue U46619 for contraction and bradykinin or sodium nitroprusside for relaxation. Nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) levels were determined by immunohistochemistry. Levels of superoxide anion in the progesterone or estrogen treated tissues were assessed by lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence analysis. Results In response to 10−7M bradykinin, porcine coronary artery rings treated with 1 × 10−6, 1 × 10−5 and 5 × 10−5 g/L of progesterone showed a significant reduction in endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation by 36%, 45%, and 68%, respectively, as compared to controls (P Conclusion This data suggests that the progesterone component of HRT has a detrimental influence on endothelium-dependent relaxation. This effect appears to be related to decreased eNOS levels, as well as increased consumption of NO by superoxide anion in the endothelium of tissues exposed to progesterone. Estrogen can block progesterone-induced endothelial dysfunction and superoxide anion production in the pig coronary artery model.
Addendum to " Delta S=1 chiral Lagrangians revisited"

It is shown that the number of independent four-derivative quartic chiral Lagrangians which can contribute to the quadratic Dalitz-plot parameters of K3\ensuremath{\pi} is four.
Characteristics of Baculovirus Preparations Processed from Living and Dead Larvae

Preparations of the nucleopolyhedrosis virus of Heliothis spp., Baculovirus heliothis , processed from dead larvae produced more polyhedral inclusion bodies per larva than preparations processed from living larvae. Also, virus harvested from dead larvae was consistently more active than virus harvested from living larvae. Although bacterial counts of preparations from dead larvae were higher than counts from living larvae, they were still below the microbiological standard permitted for nonfat dry milk. Preparations processed by lyophilization or acetone extraction and immediately bioassayed were similar in activity to that of freshly prepared aqueous suspensions of diseased larvae.
Then comes marriage? Religion, race, and marriage in urban America ☆

Abstract A growing body of research has focused on socioeconomic and cultural explanations for the fragility of marriage in urban America. This paper examines the role that religious participation—and the norms and behaviors it promotes—plays in encouraging marriage among new parents in urban America. Using longitudinal data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, we find that urban mothers who have a nonmarital birth are significantly more likely to marry within a year of that birth if they attend church frequently. For the most part, this religious effect cannot be explained by measured relationship-related beliefs and behaviors (such as affection between partners and the absence of domestic violence). Instead, religious beliefs and social supports associated with church attendance may help urban mothers make the transition to marriage in communities where marriage has become increasingly infrequent.
Effects of ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) additive in HNO3 solution on the electrochemical behaviour of ruthenium for CMP processes

In order to develop a new chemical mechanical polishing process for ruthenium (Ru), the present work deals with the effect of a ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) additive on the electrochemical behaviour of physical vapour deposited Ru films in a 1 M HNO3 solution employing electrochemical methods and surface analytical techniques. By adding CAN to HNO3 solution, the polarisation curves showed an increase in the corrosion potential and current, suggesting that Ru is anodically polarised by CAN as an oxidising additive. To characterise the influence of CAN, open-circuit potential (OCP) and potentiostatic anodic current transient curves were examined in CAN-containing HNO3 solution and the resulting surfaces were then characterised by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is proposed that Ru is oxidised to heterogeneous Ru2O3 and RuO2 films on the Ru surface in CAN-containing HNO3 solution and galvanic corrosion occurs at grain boundaries, caused by the difference in OCP between the grain interiors and boundaries. The grain boundaries are oxidised to RuO4, a volatile species, resulting in a roughened and porous structure.
'Africa Thina'? Xenophobic and cosmopolitan agency in Johannesburg's film and television drama.

The characterisation of Johannesburg as a city of crime perpetrated by foreigners and other outsiders is as old as the city itself. What is new in the post-apartheid period is the tension between the fear of foreigners as shadowy figures who allegedly spirit away the livelihoods of locals, and the attempt, in planning as well as imaginative initiatives, to reconceive of strangers as cosmopolitan agents of new modes of ‘belonging and becoming’. The cosmopolitan invoked here is less the Enlightenment concept of the knowing and usually wealthy citizen of the world who might transcend difference and conflict, than the informal cosmopolitan, the transnational migrant engaged in improvised economic, social and cultural exchange. Set in Johannesburg, films such as The Foreigner (1997), and television serials from The Line (1994) to Yizo Yizo (2000–2002), Gaz'lam (2002–2006) and A Place Called Home (2006), suggest, in their portrayals of encounters between locals and strangers, the effects of built environments o...
Household Exchange networks in Post-Socialist Slovakia

This article describes the exchange networks among extended families in Slovakia, the rights and duties of those involved in them, and their importance to these families and the Slovak economy. Special emphasis is placed on delimiting the conditions under which these networks arise and how they function. These exchange networks are best described as what institutional economist Oliver Williamson calls a "hybrid" organization, having some of the characteristics of both markets and firms. Examination of these networks, I believe, expands our understanding of production and exchange in contemporary rural societies in newly emerging market systems.
Ultralow Interfacial Tensions of Polymer/Polymer Interfaces with Diblock Copolymer Surfactants

The interfacial tension γ between polyisoprene (PI) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) homopolymers mixed with poly(isoprene-b-dimethylsiloxane) (IDMS) diblock copolymers has been measured with a spinning drop tensiometer. Measurements have been conducted for mixtures containing each of 12 copolymers, in which the PDMS volume fraction fDMS varies from 0.49 to 0.73, and for mixtures containing a symmetric copolymer and PI homopolymers of varying molecular weight. The measured interfacial tension is found to be independent of copolymer concentration above an apparent critical concentration of order 0.1 wt % copolymer. Mixtures with a nearly symmetric copolymer are found to exhibit ultralow interfacial tensions, up to 3 orders of magnitude less than that of the bare PI/PDMS interface. Results are compared to the predictions of a numerical self-consistent field theory for the interfacial tension of an interface between a PDMS phase containing swollen spherical micelles and a phase of nearly pure PI. Agreement be...
Expression of the lignin peroxidase H2 gene from Phanerochaete chrysosporium in Escherichia coli.

The DNA sequence for the extracellular lignin peroxidase isozyme H2 fromPhanerochaete chrysosporium,obtained from cDNA clone λML-6, was synthesized by PCR and successfully expressed inEscherichia coliunder control of the T7 promoter. The portion of the cDNA encoding the signal peptide, not found in the mature native enzyme, was not included. Recombinated lignin peroxidase H2 (rLiPH2) was produced in inclusion bodies in an inactive form. Active enzyme was obtained by refolding with glutathione-mediated oxidation in a medium containing urea, Ca2+, and hemin. The recombinant enzyme had spectral characteristics and kinetic properties identical to that of native enzyme isolated fromP. chrysosporium.Surprisingly, rLiPH2, like the native enzyme, also exhibited some manganese peroxidase activity.
European Regional Modernism

In recent years, beginning with the publication in 2003 of Liane Lefaivre and Alexander Tzonis’ Critical Regionalism , followed by my Architectural Regionalism: Collected Writings on Place, Identity, Modernity and Tradition in 2007, there has been a quiet resurgence in the discourse of architectural regionalism. Leuven University Press’s Regionalism and Modernity: Architecture in Western Europe 1914–1940 continues in this direction, with eleven chapters devoted to variations of the regionalist tendency in European architecture focused primarily on Belgium and France, but also Great Britain, Italy, and Germany.
Public DNS system and Global Traffic Management

Cloud service providers operate data centers around the world, and they depend on Global Traffic Management systems to direct requests from clients to the most appropriate data center to serve the requests. While GTM systems have been in-use for years, they are attracting re-newed interests due to the rapid expansion of cloud service providers' networks, the introduction of public DNS systems, as well as new proposals to alter how they should work and what information local DNS servers (LDNS) should make available to drive the GTM systems. This paper uses large-scale measurements conducted from more than 5M clients to establish properties of the current Internet that affect the design of the GTM systems, such as the stretch between a client's actual position and its LDNS from GTM's perspective, the impact of public DNS systems, and the granularity at which GTM decisions should be made. The results can inform the debate over how GTM systems should be designed.
Historical Aspects of Transcatheter Treatment of Heart Disease in Children

The very first transcatheter intervention to treat congenital cardiac defects was reported by Rubio-Alvarez et al. [1] in 1953, when they performed pulmonary valvotomy using a modified ureteral catheter. A decade later Dotter, Rashkind, Porstmann and their associates described progressive dilatation of peripheral arterial stenotic lesions, balloon atrial septostomy and transcatheter occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus, respectively. The purpose of this review is to present these and other historical developments of catheter-based interventions in the treatment of heart disease in children. Historical aspects of 1. balloon angioplasty/valvuloplasty of valvar pulmonary stenosis, valvar aortic stenosis, fixed subaortic stenosis, native aortic coarctation, postsurgical aortic recoarctation, branch pulmonary artery stenosis, mitral stenosis, cyanotic heart defects with pulmonary oligemia, stenotic bioprosthetic valves, congenital tricuspid and mitral stenosis, truncal valve stenosis, subvalvar pulmonary stenosis, supravalvar pulmonary stenosis (congenital membranous or postoperative), stenosis of the aorta (Leriche syndrome, atherosclerotic and Takayasu’s arteritis), baffle obstruction following Mustard or Senning procedure (both systemic and pulmonary venous obstructions), superior and inferior vena caval obstructions, pulmonary vein stenosis, pulmonary venoâocclusive disease, vertical vein stenosis in total anomalous pulmonary venous connection, pulmonary venous obstruction following repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous obstruction, specially designed pulmonary artery bands, cor triatriatum, cor triatriatum dexter, and coronary artery stenotic lesions that develop after Kawasaki disease; 2. stents to enlarge stenotic lesions of branch pulmonary arteries, systemic veins, systemic and pulmonary venous pathways after Mustard procedure, aorta, right ventricular outflow conduits, pulmonary veins and native right ventricular outflow tract or to keep the ductus arteriosus open in patients with pulmonary atresia and hypoplastic left heart syndrome and maintaining patency of stenosed aorto-pulmonary collateral vessels, surgically created but obstructed shunts or acutely thrombosed shunts as well as covered stents; 3. transcatheter occlusion of cardiac defects comprising of atrial septal defect, patent foramen ovale, patent ductus arteriosus, ventricular septal defect and aortopulmonary window and 4. catheter-based atrial septostomy such as Rashkind balloon atrial septostomy, Park’s blade atrial septostomy, balloon angioplasty of the atrial septum, trans-septal puncture and atrial septal stents were presented.
Hidden Behind the Wall: West German State Building and the Emergence of the Iron Curtain

It is widely accepted that the inter-German border was constructed by East German authorities to halt the emigration to the west, which had damaged the East German economy and undermined the East German state agencies' power. This article argues that this is an inaccurate understanding, which mistakenly treats perceptions and insights gained from studying the Berlin Wall as representative of the mostly rural border between East and West Germany. It emphasizes crucial transformations of frontier society during the 1950s, highlighting the important role of western as well as eastern policy in shaping them.
Boceprevir: A Protease Inhibitor for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C

Objective:To review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of boceprevir, a novel oral hepatitis C virus (HCV) nonstructural 3 (NS3) protease inhibitor for the treatment of chronic HCV infection, specifically, genotype 1.Data Sources:A literature search was conducted through MEDLINE and EMBASE (1966-May 2011) using the terms boceprevir and SCH 503034. Data from the package insert, abstracts obtained from conferences, and unpublished Phase 2-3 clinical trials, obtained through clinicaltrials.gov, were also reviewed.Study Selection And Data Extraction:All English-language articles identified from the data sources were evaluated. References from selected articles were used to identify other pertinent citations. Article selection focused on pharmacology, clinical trials, safety analyses, and resistance. Preference was given to human data.Data Synthesis:Boceprevir is an oral protease inhibitor that binds to the NS3 protein of HCV, ultimately inhibiting viral intracellular replication. Bocepre...
Cyclic alkyl amino carbene (CAAC) ruthenium complexes as remarkably active catalysts for ethenolysis

An expanded family of ruthenium-based metathesis catalysts bearing cyclic alkyl amino carbene (CAAC) ligands was prepared. These catalysts exhibited exceptional activity in the ethenolysis of the seed-oil derivative methyl oleate. In many cases, catalyst turnover numbers (TONs) of more than 100 000 were achieved, at a catalyst loading of only 3 ppm. Remarkably, the most active catalyst system was able to achieve a TON of 340 000, at a catalyst loading of only 1 ppm. This is the first time a series of metathesis catalysts has exhibited such high performance in cross-metathesis reactions employing ethylene gas, with activities sufficient to render ethenolysis applicable to the industrial-scale production of linear α-olefins (LAOs) and other terminal-olefin products.
Comparative study on bruise reduction treatments after bruise induction using the pulsed dye laser.

Background Several bruise reduction methods have been suggested to decrease postprocedure ecchymoses. Comparing the effectiveness of common bruise reduction therapies provides better evidence of the efficacy of bruise reduction techniques. Objective To compare the effectiveness of cold compresses, hydrogen peroxide, over-the-counter bruise serum, and pulsed dye laser (PDL) in minimizing the time required for bruise resolution. Methods Seventeen patients aged 22 to 51 (mean 28) with Fitzpatrick skin types I to IV underwent bruise induction with a PDL to produce five 2- by 2-cm zones of bruising on the lower abdomen. Excluding the control, bruises were randomly treated using a cold compress, bruise serum, 3% hydrogen peroxide–soaked gauze, or PDL. Subjects and two blinded physician evaluators evaluated bruise severity and graded it on a visual analog scale on days 0, 3, and 7. Results Treatment did not result in statistically significantly shorter bruise resolution time than in controls. PDL-treated bruises took a statistically significantly longer time to resolve than controls. Conclusion Our study showed no significant difference in cold compress, hydrogen peroxide, and over-the-counter serum in reducing time to bruise resolution. PDL therapy resulted in greater bruise severity scores and increased time to bruise resolution when used soon after bruise induction.
Triggering phenomena in avalanche diodes

The operation of a small area p-n junction diode above the breakdown voltage is analyzed. A new formulation in terms of ionization probability is used to derive the rate of turn-on of current in such structures. Two differential equations are given which may be used to compute the probability that a carrier swept into or generated within the space-charge region triggers avalanche breakdown. For a 27-V n+-p diode biased 1 V above breakdown, this probability is close to 0.5 for an electron entering from the p side, or 0.1 for a hole entering from n side. Experimental measurements are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions.
Risk factors for adverse events during cardiovascular magnetic resonance in congenital heart disease.

Purpose: To assess the incidence and severity of adverse events (AE) associated with cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in a large cohort of patients with congenital heart disease and to identify independent risk factors for their occurrence. Methods: AEs were prospectively recorded from October 2002 through December 2004 and graded by 3 independent observers for severity, preventability, and attributability. The rate of adverse events was analyzed for each candidate variable using Fisher's exact test and independent predictors were identified by multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: There were 22 AEs among 1334 CMR studies (1.6%); 14 (63.5%) minor, 7 (32%) moderate, and 1 (4.5%) major. General anesthesia (GA) was used in 274 studies (20.5%) with 12 AEs (4.4%, p < 0.001). There were 7 AEs (6.3%, p = 0.001) in 112 studies on hospitalized patients, 5 AEs (5.2%, p = 0.018) in 97 patients under 1 year of age, and 3 AEs (2.2%, p = 0.479) in 134 patients with functional single ventricle. The high...
Comparison of four media for the isolation of Aspergillus flavus group fungi

Four agar media used to isolate aflatoxin producing fungi were compared for utility in isolating fungi in the Aspergillus flavus group from agricultural soils collected in 15 fields and four states in the southern United States. The four media were Aspergillus flavus and parasiticus Agar (AFPA, 14), the rose bengal agar described by Bell and Crawford (BCRB; 3), a modified rose bengal agar (M-RB), and Czapek's-Dox Agar supplemented with the antibiotics in BC-RB (CZ-RB). M-RB was the most useful for studying the population biology of this group because it permitted both identification of the greatest number of A. flavus group strains and growth of the fewest competing fungi. M-RB supported an average of 12% more A. flavus group colonies than the original rose bengal medium while reducing the number of mucorales colonies and the number of total fungi by 99% and 70%, respectively. M-RB was successfully employed to isolate all three aflatoxin producing species, A. flavus, A. parasiticus and A. nomius, and both the S and L strains of A. flavus. M-RB is a defined medium without complex nitrogen and carbon sources (e.g. peptone and yeast extract) present in BC-RB. M-RB should be useful for studies on the population biology of the A. flavus group.
Evaluation of frequency, type, and function of gap junctions between skeletal myoblasts overexpressing connexin43 and cardiomyocytes: relevance to cell transplantation

SPECIFIC AIMSArrhythmias after skeletal myoblast (SM) transplantation are likely to be the consequence of the absence of or inappropriate intercellular communication between the host cardiomyocytes...
Fractal modelling of one-dimensional layered medium

Abstract The basic purpose of this paper is to investigate whether soil microstructure characteristics can be modelled by fractal sets. The purely geometrical part of this work involves setting up a model that simulates the soil structure in appearance. It is necessary, of course, to go beyond this and to devise a model that will resemble the soil not merely in appearance but also in mechanical behavior. By this is meant the deformation under loading, including the failure mechanism phenomenon. In the following, a procedure is outlined for calculating the deformation under loading of a fractal set model. While the treatment is necessarily brief, the detail devoted to a particular simple example should demonstrate the approach and its promise.